Cheltenham’s Reclaim the Night march ‘open to all’

A charity supporting victims of sexual abuse said “everyone is welcome” at the march against violence against women and girls.

Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Center’s (GRASAC) Night Walk will be held in Cheltenham on Friday evening. 16 Days of Action offer.

GRASAC’s Rachel Hole said 800 victims of rape and sexual abuse in Gloucestershire would be supported by the charity in 2023.

The origins of Reclaim the Night date back to the 1970s, around the time of the murders of Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.

“Police (at the time) advised women to stay at home to stay safe and Reclaim The Night was born out of women saying, ‘Why do we have to stay at home…why don’t men stop hurting us?’” Ms Hole said.

“Unfortunately, 50 years later, we’re still having the same conversations.”

“We recognize that many people, including men and boys, are affected by male violence, but the majority of those affected are women and girls,” Ms Hole said, adding that GRASAC supports victims of sexual abuse regardless of gender. he said.

Ms Hole said violence against women was something some “did not think was happening in Gloucestershire”.

“Last year we supported over 800 people and we have a waiting list with many more people who need and want support,” he said.

“There is a very serious message behind this, but the march itself is about bringing people together for a common cause and can feel like a very positive experience.”

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Incidents such as Reclaiming the Night show how vital it is that we redouble our efforts to secure justice for all women and girls who experience intimidation and violence; most importantly, women and girls need We need to give the rights the confidence to trust people in authority to take these issues seriously.

“This is about more than just protecting women and girls, it is about changing the behavior of men and boys through education about healthy relationships and ensuring they behave appropriately.”