The names of 95 women who were killed by men in the past year were read out in front of MPs today, ITV News Reporter Amy Lewis explains.
For the tenth year, government minister Jess Phillips MP has marked International Women’s Day by standing in the House of Commons and reading the names of the women killed by a man in the UK in the last twelve months.
This is the first time Phillips has spoken since her party came to power, in her capacity as Secretary for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls.
It took over four minutes to read the names of the 95 women, provided by the Femicide Census.
Phillips said she is feeling hopeful that the government can learn lessons from the deaths and push further in improving safety for females in the UK.
On Thursday, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to halve cases of violence against women and girls in 10 years.
Julie Devey, trustee of campaign group Killed Women, said: “Each and every year too many women are murdered by violent men.
“The reading out of the names of killed women has become a sombre but important tradition – and we are pleased to see that duty move to the government front benches where it belongs.”
Data shows a woman is killed on average every three days in the UK but campaigners believe the true number is higher.
Activist and Campaigner Jhiselle Feanny said: “We want the government to take these deaths seriously. We are calling for improved police response from the onset of the police investigation.”
Speaking today in the Commons, Phillips also pledged that the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, expected to be published in the summer, will include actions specifically addressing the root causes of abuse, including tackling spiking, stalking and new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders.
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