Million women rise: “Together we can end male violence against women and girls”
This year marked the 11th anniversary of the Million Women Rise (MWR) march. MWR believes that male violence against women and children is a global pandemic. Violence devastates the lives of women, our families, and our communities. It also threatens to undermine efforts to bring about sustainable development. Therefore our campaign to end violence against women is an international struggle for female emancipation and liberty.
It is one of the biggest women’s marches in Europe. Usually held near International Women’s Day, this year’s Million Women Rise march took place on the 10 March on the streets of central London. Thousands of women and young girls marched through Oxford Circus chanting some of these slogans:
“The time is Now! The power is You!
“Together we can end all forms of male violence!
Whatever I wear, wherever I go,
Yes means Yes and No means No!
The women were asked to wear Red, which symbolises their solidarity with women’s struggle globally - red the colour of blood, the blood of our sisters who have been abused, murdered and raped throughout the world in the hands of males.
Red is also the colour of women’s power, strength, rebellion and determination as well as passion, fire and love. Women from all walks of life participated in this march. A number of high profile women shared their stories of victimisation and abuse by men. The demand was to come together to work for change and to put an end to the silence around different issues such as immigration, detention and cuts to vital services. Violence affects the lives of women, families and our communities.
So this campaign is to end violence against women around the world, from genital mutilation to harassment at work.
Nasreen Nazir, Bradford (Britain)