November 2021

 

Good evening, everyone, thank you for joining us tonight   - and bringing your presence and your voice.

 

It is lovely to see some familiar faces – and also some new ones and welcome to everyone

 

This is our third monthly vigil here by Amelie Delegrange’s bench, which was put here to remember her after she was brutally murdered on Twickenham Green in 2004.

 

For those that don’t know me my name is Trixie Rawlinson. I am a local member of the Women’s Equality Party and I intend to stand a in next year’s council election – in my own ward just up the road in St Margaret’s and North Twickenham.  

 

I think we know why we are here – don’t we.  To mark the deaths of the women who have been murdered – or suspected murdered by men. 

 

These are the most recent figures – and I thank Karen Ingala-Smith and her team from “Counting Dead Women” who have given us permission to use these figures

 

This year shows a total of 115 women who have been murdered- either murdered by men or where a man is the principal suspect.    There are a further 18 under investigation.

So that’s an average of 3 women murdered every week this year.   12 women every month.

At least 27 were murdered by their husband or partner, 9 by their sons and 2 by their grandsons.   

Since we met here a month ago a further FIVE women have been murdered.  

 

That is 115 families, siblings, parents, loved ones and friends who have lost someone. 

These women are not just statistics – each is a tragedy on a very personal level.

 

We know that there is a social epidemic of violence against women and girls, but it’s one the press are still largely ignoring.  Last month there was a media frenzy around Wayne Couzens court case, but virtually nothing about the five women murdered since.

Ninety-three percent of killers convicted of murder and manslaughter between March 2018 and March 2020 were men, and yet one woman convicted of killing her violent and controlling husband made the headlines last week.

 

And discussion and awareness raising is all well and good but women and the Womens’ Equality Party want more than that.  WE want action that really makes a difference…..  That shifts the dial.  That goes further than suggesting WOMEN should do more than keep themselves safe.   Street lighting and helpline numbers are not enough.   Violence against women is a man’s issue – that is where the change needs to happen.  Any sentence about violence against women that starts with the words ‘women should…. Is putting the focus in the wrong place.   Violence against women and girls is about what men should…. And shouldn’t do.  It is about a societal shift. 

 

Richmond and Twickenham Council have been promising a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls – (VAWG) here in our patch of London.   Originally it was planned for April last year (2020). And just last week they announced that strategy will be delayed –again-   and won’t now be published until next year – 20 months late – and by which time possibly another 50 women (nationally) have been killed. 

 

Please join me now in taking a minute to give our thoughts to those 115 women.  While we give our silence as a mark of remembrance, I will light three candles to signify the three women each week who are murdered or suspected murdered at the hands of men.  Can I ask if you have your own candle – please hold it in your hands – just as a safety thing. 

 

- Norma Girolami, 70

- Jekouki Jaboa, 31

- Nicole Hurley, 37

- Bonnie Harwood, 47

- Katrina Rainey,

 

Thank you.

 

WE would like to ask you all to help us push for real and meaningful change - in whatever way you can.

 

Follow Richmond WEP on Twitter and Facebook. Re-tweet us and re-post our posts.

 

Similarly, follow Karen and Counting Dead Women. Re-tweet and re-post.

 

Write to your local MP and local councillor - ask them what they are doing about this

 

Be outraged and angry – ask them if they think more would happen if 3 men were being murdered by women each week.

 

Come and talk to us if you need any more information.

 

Please travel home safely, and if any of you are concerned about how safe you might be when you do get home then feel free to speak to one of the police officers we have with us this evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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