Women in Sheffield are campaigning for safer streets during the ’16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence’, saying they are “scared to walk home”.
The international campaign takes place between the 25th November and 10th December and was created by the United Nations to challenge violence against women and girls.
Two Reclaim the Night marches were organised by university students to commence the campaigning as women gathered in Sheffield city centre on Saturday and Monday evening.
Eloise Taylor, Women’s Officer for the University of Sheffield, explained that the first Reclaim the Night March began in 1977 in Yorkshire in response to the “atrocious” police reaction to the murders and attempted murders of 22 women by Peter Sutcliffe.
She said the march is still important because violence against women and those of marginalised genders is still prevalent in our city.
South Yorkshire Police had the 10th highest rate across 42 police force areas of domestic abuse-related crime between 2022 and 2023.
Ms Taylor added, “We are raising awareness that the focus should not be on teaching women and people of marginalised genders; it should be on educating men.”
Women who have attended events across the week said they do not feel safe in the city at night.
Niamh, a student at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are scared to walk home at 5pm.
“We cannot do much about it, it just seems to be ignored.”
Representatives from women’s charities across the city, including Women’s Aid and the Young Women’s Christian Association, were present at Saturday’s march.
Claire Harding, Project Manager at YWCA Sheffield, said the campaigning: “Represents not just a stand against violence but a beacon of hope for a safer, more equitable world.”
Last night, women across the city attended a central Local Area Committee meeting to air their concerns about night-time safety in the city to local councillors.
Across next week, both universities will host self-defense classes, film screenings, and report and support drop-ins.
Find out more: 16 Days Against Gendered Violence – Sheffield Students’ Union
