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6th March marked the third year of ‘Million Women Rise March’, where ten’s of thousands of women gathered to participate in the worlds biggest womens protest since the Suffragettes or the Greenham Common Women, to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8th – 2010’s theme being “each one teach one”
The march is organised by ordinary women fed up with violence against women in all its forms. It is a time where many celebrate and honour women’s activism, courage and achievements, the day including speeches, poetry and music
Confirmed speakers at Londons rally included actress Cathy Tyson of Band of Gold and Emmerdale fame and Margaret Moran, MP for Luton and Chair of All Party Group on Domestic Violence
The women who organised the march said “enough is enough! Never has the rape of a woman’s right and dignity been so systematic and coordinated, the health and lives of women have never faced such peril.”
We are at a threshold. We are going to see change. If we can create the vision in our heart, it will spread. As women of wisdom we cannot be divided. As bringers of light, we have no choice but to join together” said Agness Baker Pilgrim from the Grandmothers Council
Million Women Rise marches with a clear statement of demands which ask all institutions (including UK government) and societies, both at home and internationally:
*To acknowledge the continued discrimination faced by all women, the additional discrimination faced by Black women and women from minority groups, and reflect this in all public policy in the UK and internationally
*To adopt a broad definition of violence against women, which makes the links between domestic abuse, rape and commercial sexual exploitation
*To pledge support and resources to the women’s not-for-profit sector which is at the forefront of supporting survivors of discrimination, abuse and violence. Women’s services are essential to a woman’s healing and empowerment
*To support the demands of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVWC) and End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes International Forum (ECPAT) for the protection of children and to adopt a cross government strategy addressing all forms of violence against women
*To abolish the ‘no recourse’ requirement for abused women who have insecure immigration status
*For all trafficked women and children to have a guaranteed minimum reflection period, specialist support and medical assistance, specialist safe houses for child and adult victims of trafficking and the right to a temporary residence permit if deemed at risk
*To commit to changing public attitudes and behavior towards women and girls through education initiatives and public awareness campaigns as set out by school programs such as Womankind Worldwide initiatives
*To hold the media accountable for the continued misrepresentation, misappropriation and abuse of the female body throughout all forms of media
*To recognise that global war and conflict perpetuates violence against women and to stop all wars now. Three out of four fatalities of war are women and children
*For International Women’s Day to become a National Bank Holiday in the UK and Ireland in recognition of and to celebrate women’s achievements
You Can Also Pledge Your Support To The Statement Of Demands Here:
http://www.millionwomenrise.com/about/about/about/signstatement.php
Official Website – http://www.millionwomenrise.com
Blog Spot – http://millionwomanrise.blogspot.com/
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11516673477
Whilst male violence is on the rise, so to will a ‘Million Rise March’
Womens Grid
