Reclaim The Night March Against Violence Extends Open Welcome

An organization dedicated to assisting individuals affected by sexual abuse has announced that “everyone is welcome” to participate in an upcoming march protesting violence directed at women and girls. The Reclaim The Night march, organized by the Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC), is scheduled for Friday evening in Cheltenham, forming part of the 16 Days of Action campaign. Rachel Hole, representing GRASAC, stated that the charity provided support to 800 victims of rape and sexual abuse within Gloucestershire during 2023. The Reclaim The Night movement originated in the 1970s, coinciding with murders committed by Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper. Ms Hole explained, “The police issued advice [at the time] to women to stay at home to stay safe, and Reclaim The Night was born out of women saying, ‘Why should we have to stay home… why don’t men stop harming us?'” She added, “Sadly, 50 years later, we’re still having the same conversations.” Ms Hole further commented, “We recognise that a lot of people are affected by male violence, including men and boys, but the majority of people affected are women and girls,” and clarified that GRASAC offers support to sexual abuse victims irrespective of their gender. According to Ms Hole, some individuals hold the belief that violence against women “doesn’t happen in Gloucestershire.” She stated, “Last year, we supported over 800 individuals and we have waiting list with far more people needing and wanting support.” Ms Hole concluded, “There’s a very serious message behind this, but the march itself is about bringing people together for a shared cause, and it can feel quite a positive experience.” A representative for Gloucestershire Constabulary commented: “Events such as Reclaim the Night show how vital it is that we redouble our efforts to secure justice for all women and girls who are subjected to intimidation and violence; most importantly, we must give women and girls the confidence to trust those in authority to take these matters seriously.” The spokesperson added, “This is more than just about protecting women and girls, but about changing the behaviour of men and boys through education about healthy relationships and ensuring they act appropriately.” For updates, follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information on its external linking policy.