A poster depicting 19 pairs of shoes – each representing a woman in Cornwall who lost her life to gender-based violence or domestic abuse in the last four years – will go on display at pop-up events next week.
They have been organised as part of ‘16 Days of Action’, an annual international campaign that calls for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Safer Cornwall, Our Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Safeguarding Adults Board are working with partners to deliver a schedule of free events and training activities from Monday, November 25 to Tuesday, December 10. People across Cornwall are being urged to take part and help raise awareness.
The full line-up is available to view on the 16 Days of Action webpage and includes:
- High street pop-up events taking place in Penzance and Newquay among many other locations where people can learn more from specialists.
- Bystander training sessions – what to do if you witness VAWG.
- Vigils and marches including Reclaim the Night in Newquay and Penzance vigil and march.
- Training events and webinars aimed at both professionals and public, including an overview of Devon and Cornwall police’s strategy to tackle VAWG with a focus on stalking.
Cllr Carol Mould, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, including community safety and the Safer Cornwall partnership, said: “We are proud to stand alongside all those participating in the 16 Days of Action campaign to end violence against women and girls. Every instance of gender-based violence and each story shared by those with lived experience emphasises the depth and urgency of this issue. We must listen, we must believe, and, above all, we must act.
“This violence touches countless lives within our communities, and it demands our sustained and collective commitment. Together, through continuous action and the united efforts of individuals and organisations, we can strive to eradicate gender-based violence and create safer, more inclusive spaces for all.”
Statistics for Cornwall show that every year 10,000 reports of domestic abuse are made and since 2020 eight women have been killed by men who were either their current or former partner, or a family member. A further six women, who were victims of domestic abuse, took their own lives, and another five deaths - also linked to domestic abuse – are likely to be determined as suicides pending an inquest. Of the 22 domestic abuse related death reviews commissioned in Cornwall since 2020, 19 involve a female victim.
Thalia Marrington, chair of Cornwall Council’s working group on violence against women and girls, added: “Violence and abuse thrive in silence and become normal when they go unchecked and unnoticed. This is why we are calling on everyone across our communities to stand united with us on this issue, help us raise awareness and support our ambition for change.
“The 16 Days of Action represent an opportunity to see and hear from the services that are out there offering support across Cornwall but are also an opportunity for everyone to gain more of an understanding of the issue, its root causes and to realise that to solve this, everyone must play their part.”
Reports of domestic abuse and sexual violence continue to increase year-on-year and it is estimated that one in three women in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be affected during their lifetime. The true figure is likely to be far higher too as many incidents go unreported to police.
A report by the National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing describes VAWG as a ‘national emergency’ with an ‘epidemic scale of offending’.
To find out more and how you can get involved, or to get in touch, search 16 Days of Action in Cornwall online or visit the 16 Days of Action webpage. Support is available for anyone who is concerned about domestic abuse or sexual violence. To find out more, visit the Safer Cornwall website.