The UN's International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women is this Thursday (25th November)  

The United Nations reports that nearly 1 in 3 women will be abused in their lifetime. In times of crises, the numbers rise, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent humanitarian crises, conflicts and climate disasters. While gender-based violence can happen to anyone, anywhere, some women and girls are particularly at risk - for instance, young girls and older women, women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex, migrants and refugees, indigenous women and ethnic minorities, women and girls living with HIV and disabilities, and those living through humanitarian crises. After experiencing violence only 1 in 10 women said that they would go to the police for help. 

Locally there are groups who are working hard to tackle this global epidemic such as Bristol Women’s Voice (BWV) which was set up to make sure that when key decisions are taken, women’s voices have been listened to and their ideas and concerns acted on. They also promote services and events for women to come together to raise and tackle issues. For example, the Reclaim The Night march taking place in Bristol tomorrow (Thursday 25th November), at 7pm, beginning at the Victoria Rooms (BS8 1SA). 

BWV also campaigns for change and is supporting Bristol Council’s proposed nil cap policy for licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs). The team headed out on to the streets of Bristol recently to hear what young men think about strip clubs, sexual harassment and what they think should be done to support gender equality in our city. You can hear everything they had to say in this video and then have your say in the Council's consultation which is open until 19th of December.