On the first Thursday of every month in Sheffield, people gather on the steps of the Town Hall to remember the lives lost to male violence. 

The monthly vigils, held at 5.30pm, are a part of a growing movement to keep the urgency of gender-based violence in the public view.

Gender-based violence is a global issue, highlighted each year by the UN during the 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which runs from the 25th of November to the 16th of December. 

In 2023, a woman was intentionally killed by a partner or family member every ten minutes and, in response, UK police declared gender-based violence a national emergency in 2024. 

For many in Sheffield, these vigils are a way of refusing silence and insisting that the crisis remains visible.

Charlotte Mead, a member of the VAWG Forum and the Equality Party, explained that the gatherings began locally in 2021, after the murder of Sabina Nessa. 

She said: “I think it’s really important we all gather publicly like this.

“After Sabina was murdered and the vigil was held, a few people decided that we should continue them, not just for high-profile murder cases.”

Charlotte said that consistency is essential with these vigils: “We know that these murders happen two to three times a week on average. There’s a family going through what Sabina’s family went through that many times in a week.”

During each vigil, the names of women who have been killed by male violence are read aloud in remembrance. 

“There’s never been a month where we haven’t had to read any names out,” Charlotte said. “I look forward to the day there are no names.”

The next VAWG vigil will take place on the 8th of January, 2026, on the steps of the Town Hall and will also be available to access online. 

The VAWG Forum welcomes all women, including trans women and those with non-binary gender identities.

For more information, email: dact@sheffield.gov.uk.