THE community is being invited to take to the streets to show their support for a campaign that highlights the issue of violence against women and girls on Monday, November 25.

The solidarity night walk is being held in Penzance and will finish with a candlelit vigil. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join the event; men can show their solidarity by walking alongside women and actively taking a stand against harassment, abuse, violence, rape and objectification of women.

The walk will begin at 5.30pm at Wherrytown car park (opposite Lidl) in Penzance, with free hot drinks available. The walk will end at St Mary’s Church on Chapel Street, where the candlelit vigil will take place. The names of women who have died due to male violence will be read out in tribute. There will also be performances, talks and food available.

This is the fourth consecutive year the event has been held as part of the annual global initiative ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence’, with hundreds of people taking to the streets in previous years. A series of events will be held during the campaign period.

Lizzie Matthews, chief executive officer at West Cornwall Women’s Aid said: “Violence against women and girls continues to be a persistent issue, underscored by the many recent, high-profile cases in the media. We urge our local community to stand together with us on November 25, sending a clear message that gender-based violence has no place in our society and must come to an end."

Support for the event and the wider 16 Days of Activism has been provided by Penzance Council and also by Cornwall Council’s Community Capacity Fund as part of the Good Growth Programme.

Mayor of Penzance, Cllr Stephen Reynolds, said: “The 16 days of activism is now firmly established as an annual event in the life of Penzance, thanks to the tireless efforts of the many people in our community who champion the cause of stopping violence against women and girls. I am proud that our community continues to stand up and be counted on this issue that still blights so many lives.”