In the UK, a woman is killed by a man every 2.7 days. Ending the epidemic of male violence against women and girls is a national emergency.

I am proud as always to support White Ribbon and the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence and their mission to end gender-based violence.

Understanding this urgency, I’m pleased the new Labour government is committed to ending violence against women and girls, starting with criminalising spiking. Efforts to help women feel safe night and day must continue.

From school, the workplace and home, violence against women and girls is pervasive and ending it is key to the safety of women everywhere. However, nothing can change unless we do.

Speaking up against harassment helps break down the norms of sexism that harm women and girls in all aspects of their lives. Educating ourselves on stereotypes, which lead to harm against women, helps change cultures of violence that have sadly become normalised.

Violence against women and girls is not a women’s issue. Tackling it starts with men holding themselves accountable to women, taking responsibility and starting the conversation. 

Silence around male violence can be just as harmful. Therefore, we must all take part in speaking up, educating ourselves and eradicating violence against women and girls.