A poignant candlelit vigil is set to take place on Saturday in the Sheffield Peace Gardens as “Violence against women and girls remains a critical global issue.”
Organised by the Sheffield Women’s Collective, the vigil will take place at 7:30pm on International Women’s Day and will see attendees’ light candles in memory of women who have died as a result of male violence.
International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place on 8 March annually and each year sees a host of events taking place in Sheffield and other cities.
Jade Wade, 35, Amber Millar, 27 manage Sheffield Women’s Collective around their normal working lives and families, but the organisation is important to them.
Ms Millar said: “We have to keep talking about men’s violence against women and girls until there is no more violence.”
At the event on Saturday they are planning to have a speech from a survivor of domestic violence and read out the names of the 80 women in the UK whose deaths resulted in a man being charged last year.
Ms Millar said: “It would be great to have a good turnout of people coming to show support. It’s our first event as an organisation, so it’s a learning experience in terms of organising community events.”
In a post promoting the event on their Instagram account they state: “Violence against women and girls remains a critical global issue, with alarming statistics highlighting its prevalence both in the UK and worldwide.
“In England and Wales, approximately two million women are estimated to be victims of violence annually, equating to at least one in every 12 women.”
The organisers were initially part of the Sheffield branch of the UK Women’s March movement which saw a significant number of protests take place across cities in the UK earlier this January. After seeing around 500 people turn out to demonstrate in Sheffield, Ms Wade wanted to continue the activism and asked Ms Millar to join as a second manager of Sheffield Women’s Collective.
Of the large turnout at the march in January, Ms Millar said: “It shows that women are angry. We’re horrified by the treatment of women and girls globally. The removal of women’s rights both in America and in Afghanistan has mobilised many of us.
“Creating these spaces where women can come together, with a common purpose, is invigorating.”
Amber said: “While it’s so important that issues of gender inequality are prioritised every day, IWD serves as a dedicated moment to reflect on the progress that we have made and the challenges that still exist.
“While some people might say that ‘we don’t need feminism anymore’ the reality is that much work remains to be done globally. IWD helps remind us that the fight for gender equality is ongoing.”
The Candlelit Vigil will take place Saturday 8 March at 7:30pm in the Sheffield Peace Gardens.
