Men encouraged to support Cleethorpes reclaim these streets event
The community is hoping to raise awareness of violence against women and girls on a two mile walk.
A ‘Reclaim these Streets’ walk will take place in Cleethorpes on Friday 21st March to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.
The two-mile walk starts from Cleethorpes Leisure Centre at 7pm, with glow sticks being handed out to participates.
The event has been organised by North East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership with the goal of bringing men into the conversation about violence towards women and girls.
It's men and boys supporting women to feel safe on the streets
"So there are absolutely key to the solution and the purpose of the walk is to to raise awareness, empower women, but to encourage men to be good role models," said Rebecca Freeman, Community Partnerships Manager at North East Lincolnshire Council.
"It's not about women going out and walking and doing a protest.
It's not that at all -it's men and boys supporting the women to do that and to feel safe on the streets.
"What we want men and boys to do is to challenge any inappropriate behaviour that they see, intervene if they feel safe to do so and act as allies and advocates for women and girls."
Violence against women and girls is the most common crime reported to Lincolnshire Police, with North East Lincolnshire Council stating it made up 29% of all crime in 2023/24.
These offences include harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, coercive control and murder.
"So we've got the Police and Crime Commissioner who has funded some immediate interventions for us to make women and girls feel safer.
"We've got enhanced lighting, we've got ambassadors out in the evenings on a Friday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
"But what we need to do on top of that is look at that longer term cultural change with men and boys. So we're doing a lot of work in colleges with young people.
"We're looking at that culture change and exploring what is socially acceptable at the moment, but what we what we need to do as well is just raise that profile and show people that we're out and about on the streets and and that it's an important matter for absolutely everybody, not just for women and girls."
Rayo Premium