WE ARE THE WOMEN
WE’VE COME TO MARCH
WE BRING OUR VOICES AND THE RAGE OF OUR HEARTS
WE ARE THE WOMEN
WE’VE COME TO DRUM
WE ARE THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION!
Date: 17th December
Harbour Housing joined other support services, some of which included The Women’s Centre Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Council, Safer Cornwall and the NHS to take part in the 16 Days Active campaign.
Events held throughout Cornwall for the campaign had been designed to bring together support services, so that people were able to be immediately signposted to the right place and gather as much information as they could in one area, to raise awareness for Violence against women and girls (VAGW) which is one of the most urgent human rights emergencies in the world.
During these events, Harbour Housings women’s services attended the 20th annual Reclaim the night, with some of the residents that are survivors of violence against women and girls. Candles and flowers were displayed while one by one, names of all of the individuals were read aloud in remembrance and honour of all of the lives brutally interrupted this year by male violence.
Due to the weather warnings, the emotive candlelit vigil was held in St Michaels the Archangel church, in the coastal town of Newquay. The nature of the storm’s presence felt poetic as a representation of rage, to be heard, to be seen and to be present. An energy pouring into a community standing together through the connection of words, music and dance, powered by grief, hope and empowerment, who like the roaring Atlantic ocean below, would not have their freedom restricted or be silenced.
From the hauntingly beautiful lyrics of Holly Ann Coles; Land and sea, to the raw and heartbreaking spoken word stories to the powerful expression of dance from young survivors of sexual abuse. The emotions were evident as they echoed around the 123-year-old stone walls, standing proud with the community within.
When asked one of the residents at Harbour Housing why it was important for her to attend the vigil, she replied.
‘I think that it is important for everyone to attend tonight because it is to end violence against women and girls. One in five die from domestic abuse. One hundred and thirty women in Sudan, three weeks ago, killed themselves to avoid sexual violence. This is why all of us have to march, it’s not just about what has happened to us, it’s happening everywhere, and we need to do whatever we can about it’.
Reports of domestic abuse and sexual violence continue to increase every year, with an estimated one in three women in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly being affected during their lifetime. The true figure is likely to be far higher as many incidents go unreported to police, as violence and abuse thrive in silence and become normal when they go unchecked and unnoticed.
This is a difficult time of year for the residents we support. It has been encouraging to see them participating in the activities during these 16 days of awareness and to feel inspired by how they have used their voices. Just for them to attend Reclaim the Night is a huge success in terms of them leaving their safety nets and being a part of such an important campaign. – Support worker, Harbour Housing
At least one in three women experience Domestic violence and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to experience interpersonal violence and abuse, and it has been reported that up to 70% of women sleeping rough have experienced violence from an intimate partner.
In Cornwall alone, figures show that every year 10,000 reports of domestic abuse are made and since 2020 eight women have been killed by men who were either their current or former partner or a family member.
A further six women, who were victims of domestic abuse, took their own lives, and another five deaths – also linked to domestic abuse – are likely to be determined as suicides pending an inquest and of the 22 domestic abuse-related death reviews commissioned in Cornwall since 2020, 19 involve a female victim.
More than 5,300 women endure sexual abuse annually and approximately 2,500 face rape or sexual assault. Additionally, over 10,000 local women fall among the one in twenty who are subjected to repeated abuse in childhood and again in adulthood.
Other events and activities that our women’s services and residents participated in included a High street pop-up event in Saltash. Bystander training sessions, webinars, and our voices will be heard posters.
To access Harbour Housings women’s services, go to the MAKE A REFERRAL button on our website at https://www.harbourhousing.com/
For further support, please see the list below.
9th September
Cultural feast shared by staff celebrates diversity and inclusion.
Harbour Housing recognised the generosity of one of its own colleagues through its Act of Kindness Award, celebrating the everyday
23rd June
13th June
9th June
27th May
22nd May
