I was inspired listening to powerful voices of women, and some men, at the ‘Stop Violence Against Women and Girls’ gathering, Altab Ali Park, 15 April 2022

Yasmin Begum was murdered at her home in Bethnal Green, East London, by her estranged husband on 24 March 2022 while her children were in school. Sabina Nessa was murdered by a stranger in Kidbrooke, Southeast London, on 17 September 2021.

Every year, thousands of women like them and girls suffer horrific violence and deaths at the hands of men and people close to them in many cases. It is not acceptable, but nutters, disturbed individuals and some who have more physical power, financial advantage and status continue to commit violence against women.

I hope by speaking out against violence against women and girls, developing a better understanding of how and why that happens and coming together to develop strategies, it will be possible to eliminate this evil.

I was inspired by hearing powerful voices of women, and some men, on Good Friday, 15 April 2022, at the Altab Ali Park, the place which has become a symbol of resistance against bigotry and violence. I hope these voices will get louder and louder and help put an end to this evil in all societies.

When I was young, I used to hear, quite regularly, young men advising other young men how to keep their girlfriends and wives under control. One of the pieces of advice was the need to ‘slap them around’. I thought those days were gone.