A CALL has been made for Wokingham people to come together on Friday, November 25, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Cllr Sarah Kerr, the executive member for climate emergency and resident services, made an impassioned plea to a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council to join in a vigil which will be held at 7pm in Wokingham town centre’s Market Place.
Introducing the day, she read out the names of 10 women who were murdered in January, adding: “Since then, 85 women in the UK have been killed by a man or where a man is the principal suspect.”
She added that Friday is also White Ribbon Day, raising awareness of the role men can play in eliminating violence against women and girls.
“The onus needs to shift away from what women need to do to keep themselves safe, to tackling male behaviours. It’s a minority of men, but all men can be part of calling it out, ending misogyny, promoting equality & respect and making society safer for women and girls,” she said.
“I am delighted that we have committed as an organisation to taking a strategic approach to tackling violence against women and girls. I encourage you all to play as full a part as possible in this. “
