Feminists gathered in Highbury Fields last week to pay tribute to women who have died at the hands of men. The vigil was organised by campaigners Million Women Rise.
The event, which takes place on 25 November every year as the UN marks Elimination of Violence against Women Day, was moved from Trafalgar Square to Islington due to the borough’s more “intimate” atmosphere.
Sabrina Qureshi, 42, who founded Million Women Rise, a grassroots group which organises Europe’s largest march against male violence each year, said: “Most of us volunteers are from Islington, and we wanted to reach out to women in our area”.
Thirty women and men attended, though Qureshi describes feeling heartened by the number of passers-by who were drawn in by the display featuring photographs of some of the women who have been murdered by their partners or ex partners in the UK.
“We want people to know we care,” she said. “I want to raise awareness of male violence because I’ve seen a lot of violence against women and I’ve just had enough”.
Qureshi’s experience working at a domestic abuse centre inspired her to set up Million Women Rise in 2008.
She said: ”The government isn’t doing enough to help women. It’s fine to offer counselling sessions and to rehouse women, but what happens after that?”
Karen Ingala Smith, the CEO of domestic abuse charity, NIA, who is petitioning Home Secretary Theresa May to release more information about murdered women, described the vigil as “respectful and sensitive”.
“Women were connecting with each other over these issues,” she said.
She echoes Qureshi’s belief that the government is failing vulnerable women.
She said: “We shouldn’t just be focusing on domestic violence. What about all instances of violence against elderly women? Sixteen women were killed by their sons last year.”
She added: “Male violence is a cause and consequence of inequality that the government should take more steps to address.”
Paul Convery, Islington Council’s executive member for community safety, said: “A level of violent behaviour affects everyone…as a council we do struggle with finding the appropriate levers to address this.”
Though no councillors took part in the Highbury vigil, hundreds of council staff donned white ribbons on 25 November to show support for the cause.
Convery said: “We’re taking a number of symbolic measures and are working with the police to prevent violence towards women… and impose the highest possible sanctions on the perpetrators.”
Follow Sarah Karacs on Twitter at @sarahkaracs
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