Londonderry women's safety rally held
The crowd were calling for an end to violence against women and girls
Last updated 9th Nov 2024
Around a thousand people turned out in Londonderry on Friday night calling for an end to violence against women and girls.
It comes after a space of recent sexually motivated attacks in the city with some held at knifepoint.
The crowd stood shoulder to shoulder, holding signs on the steps of the Guildhall.
Women held pictures of those who have been murdered in Northern Ireland.
A minutes silence was also held for them.
Some women we spoke to told us they're horrified at recent attacks:
"It's scary bringing my 11-year-old daughter up in a world where people need to carry alarms if they're female if it's after the dark time to come out.
"As a woman in Derry, a teen girl I don't feel safe and I think we need to start getting rights for women."
According to the PSNI, seven females have been murdered this year in Northern Ireland.
Police recently stepped up patrols in Derry in response to recent incidents.
In a recent statement a spokesperson for the PSNI said:
"As a Police Service we are all collectively devastated by the recent murders of women in Northern Ireland and we want to send a strong message that violence against women and girls should not and will not be tolerated.
"What does this say about us as a society?
"We need everyone in our communities to help us.
"Take a stand.
"Strongly condemn violence, abuse and intimidation against women and girls, report to us if you feel something is not right or someone is in danger and call it out. Call out misogyny in our communities, it starts with inappropriate comments and behaviours and then escalates.
"Unfortunately by the time we get involved as a Police Service, violence, intimidation and abuse has already happened.
"Societal change is needed to prevent abusers from festering in our communities.
“As a Police Service we recently revised our Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan which remains a top priority for us.
"The level of violence and loss in Northern Ireland demands nothing less."