Placards such as 'a dress is not a yes' made ahead of tonight's 'reclaim the night' march in Plymouth
Hundreds will tonight call for an end to violence against women and girls
It's Plymouth's 'reclaim the night' march later - where hundreds of women will call for an end to the growing levels of violence against women and girls in the city.
They'll be carrying placards and making their voices heard tonight - just days after a vigil for local university lecturer Claire Chick who died last month.
Starting at Arts University Plymouth’s Tavistock Place campus, the free public march will start at 6:15pm and walk from the arts university through the city centre and finish back at Tavistock Place.
Ahead of the event, Arts University Plymouth students have been making placards saying things like 'a dress is not a yes' and 'I'm a woman hear me roar' to highlight women's voices.
Hannah Shead, CEO of South West equality charity Trevi, which is behind the march said: " In 2023, Plymouth experienced a significant number of domestic violence and sexual offences, totalling 6,342 incidents.
"In the same year, the city reported 153 incidents of violence and sexual offences in the city centre, accounting for 36.4% of all crimes in that area.
"When we're walking, when we're marching we can draw a bit of attention and show people these are some of the messages that we want to get across to people on our streets and in our city.
"I talk to some of my male friends sometimes and they're surprised by the lengths that women often go to - to keep ourselves safe out and about.
"What we're saying is we don't want a curfew put upon us. We don't want to have to modify our behaviours and the way we live our lives.
"Last year it was really intresting, we had lots of people come up to us afterwards saying it was the first time they'd been part of an event like that. They felt really empowered by it, really encouraged and they felt part of something."
A spokesperson for the university said: "Arts University Plymouth also takes part in Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) working groups in the city concerned with improving equality and supporting women and girls' safety and support nationally and in the region.
"Since 2023, Arts University Plymouth and women and children's charity Trevi have been in partnership, marking a united front against violence against women and girls and supporting local families.
"Plymouth actively fosters a safe and inclusive environment for its residents, visitors, and student community. In a concerted effort to combat VAWG, the city has embarked on a comprehensive journey to not only raise awareness of this issue but also addresses it through a multitude of safety initiatives, such as emergency help points throughout the city and Purple Flag accreditation for its nightlife.
"These initiatives aim to alter the cultural landscape, ensuring that every individual has access to protective measures and resources. While Plymouth is one of the safest cities in the UK, this collaborative approach signifies Plymouth's commitment to challenging both international and national statistics related to VAWG and Arts University has pledged to tackle VAWG as a recognised collective responsibility, creating a safer, more respectful society for all."
"‘Reclaim the Night’ marches and protests have been prominent in cities across the UK for nearly five decades, starting in Leeds in 1977 when women came together to express their rage and anger against a series of murders by Peter Sutcliffe and towards the police who had subsequently imposed a curfew for women, while men were able to live their lives freely.
"Women nationally continue to protest and advocate for not only having to take extra measures to ensure their own safety within their daily lives but also being expected to take precautions against the added threat of issues such as spiking and the risk of sexual assault on nights out."