Reclaim the Night comes to Newcastle

Over 100 women, men, children (and a few four legged friends) gathered at Old Eldon Square in Newcastle City Centre on Saturday 23^rd November to support the seventh annual Reclaim the Night event organised by the Northern TUC Women’s Group.  Led by the amazing Bangshees, a Community-based all-women drumming group, the crowd weaved their way up Northumberland Street getting a fantastic reception from the late night shoppers who cheered and clapped as the group went by. Vera Baird, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria and Martine Dellard of the North East Feminist Gathering (NEFG) joined the marchers as they made their way to the Haymarket and across to the Civic Centre for speeches and refreshments.

Welcoming attendees squeezing into the Pandon Room, Clare Williams, Chair of the Northern TUC Women’s Group remarked on the fantastic turn-out saying that to achieve more equality we need to build the biggest alliances collectively.  In an unequal society women are still experiencing high levels of domestic violence, rape is used as a weapon of war and many face discrimination in the workplace.  We need to look at ways to ensure women are more represented in decision making bodies and we need to build strong alliances to challenge the government and put an end to discrimination.

She welcomed Vera Baird, wishing her a happy birthday on her first year as PCC for Northumbria. Vera spoke about the ‘night time economy’ and the work she has been doing with the police and door staff to keep young people and those most vulnerable safe on our streets at night.  She was instrumental in developing compulsory safeguarding training for door staff, recognising that obligation does not end within four walls.  This training has been rolled out nationwide and the response from door staff in Newcastle has been very positive. As part of the Violence Against Women strategy she has been helped by the NEFG and Wearside Women In Need, a volunteer from which will accompany police when responding to domestic violence calls.  The Strategy will be officially launched at the Beacon Centre on 10^th December. With an estimated 47,000 rapes every year it’s shocking that the conviction rate is 5.3% - the lowest ever, and even more worrying, the drop out rate is going up.  There’s a lot more to Reclaim the Night – but we’re on it.

Our final contribution came from Martine Dellard who confessed that this was her first Reclaim the Night event.  Martine spoke about the Women Only Space based in Newcastle - a safe space for women to be themselves, where they can relax and get support and practical help.  It’s a space where women can plan activism campaigns, share feminist values, and support and encourage one another. The space is open once a week and all are welcome. She finished with an interesting point on equality – she looks forward to the day when out of the mist and from the depth of the Tardis, out steps a female Doctor Who!.

Clare thanked everyone for coming and hoped that events like this would continue to build and forge strong alliances and keep relationships going.

The event received some good media coverage including filming by Sky News Tyne and Wear http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/90154/reclaim-the-night-march-dozens-unite-in-newcastle-against-rape and photographs from then event can be seen at http://www.demotix.com/news/3327526/tuc-stage-reclaim-night-event-newcastle-upon-tyne-uk