Calling all Knights: We need your help to reach all men. It’s time to come out of your caves and draw a line in the sand with your sword. The silent majority are often taken as agreeing with an issue. Sexual violence against women and children is an issue surrounded in secrecy, dominance and re-perpetrations. Sexual violence is a gendered crime which means that far more men than women perpetrate atrocities against women and children. Does your silence mean you agree that sexual violence is an acceptable thing to have occur? If not, speak up. Men are part of the problem and therefore you are part of the solution. The movement of ending sexual violence needs you to solute now because it is your daughters, wives, sisters and mothers who are being raped. This article is the progressive 2006, electronic version of encouraging men to march across the world to end sexual violence against the women they love.
The twenty seventh of October 2006 marks the 30th anniversary of the international Reclaim the Night march – a peaceful demonstration against men’s sexual violence toward women and children. Traditionally the march has been a women’s only space – a space for healing and solidarity. Interestingly enough, while reported sexual assaults increase, the marches have been reducing in numbers over recent years.
Reclaim the Night began in Rome in 1976 as an organized reaction to astronomical figures of reported rapes (16000 per annum). Marches followed in 1977 in West Germany and in England. In Leeds (U.K) women marched against the curfews imposed against them because of the ‘Ripper Murders’. Angered by police advice to stay indoors, they marched with torches through the town and challenged men in the street, asking them where they were at the time the “Ripper” killed Jacqueline Hill. Support marches occurred simultaneously in 11 towns, from Manchester to Soho.
‘Take Back the Night’ marches in the USA were first held in 1978 as a symbolic statement of commitment to stopping the tide of violence against women and a demand that perpetrators be held responsible for their actions and be made to change.
Women from Ireland, India, Canada, Germany and Holland have also marched through their cities to Reclaim the Night.
In Australia, Reclaim the Night marches were first held in 1978.
Held internationally on the last Friday evening in October, marches in latter years have experienced a lower number of supporters. Many women complain that if they can’t march with their husbands and sons then they won’t march at all. In an effort to reach all people, and to continue a march throughout the world without having to leave your home, this article aims to reclaim men and their families. Please, we need your help men.
Women, without spamming, send this to all men that you know. For once, let’s invite them to share our electronic march and give them the opportunity to publicly state their views about sexual violence.
Men, leave your city or country name followed by a comment, so the world knows that you DO NOT support sexual violence against women and children. I implore you not to be silent – the silent majority are too frequently taken as agreeing with sexual violence. To leave a comment you will need to become a member of families.com. No fee, no obligation to stay involved, but a worldwide blogging march to display how many decent men we have. To register a comment, join here.
Between now and Friday October 27th let’s send this article around the world to every man we know. Together, we will end sexual violence against our women and children.
Check, boys. The next move is yours. Will you stand up to help end sexual violence?
Australia Says No to Violence Against Women – do you?
Related articles:
Not All Men Sexually Abuse Children
MEN TORch the Chance of Boys Becoming Non-Violent Men
Sexual Violence Awareness Month
Recovery From a Rape. YOU Can Immediately Help