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Women march through city centre to honour victims of domestic violence

  • Women wore red ponchos as they walked through the city centre
  • The names of women killed in the last 12 months were read out during the march
  • March takes place every year before International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Activists marched through Manchester city centre to remember women who have been killed because of domestic violence.

More than 30 women gathered in Piccadilly Gardens to remember the victims of domestic violence by taking part in the #DeadWomenWalking march.

The march, which is now in its sixth year, was organised by Claire Moore who felt it was important to remember the women in the UK who are killed by men. 

Claire said: “I believe that domestic violence murders are preventable. We are let down, we are not believed. The warnings we disclose are not taken seriously and then when we die we hear the phrase lessons will be learnt.”

Domestic violence killings have reached a five year high, with 1 in 4 women being affected by domestic violence each year.

Claire added: “I think it’s important that we represent the women whose lives have been taken. We represent them today. Until lessons are learnt we are all dead women walking. I believe there is a systematic failure letting women down and it is costing us our lives. We need to raise awareness about how many of us experience domestic abuse.”

The women wore red ponchos for the one mile walk which began and ended in Piccadilly Gardens. During the walk the names of all the women killed by known men in the last 12 months were read out.

Women are calling for changes in the way domestic violence is reported in the media.

One woman said: “We always see things reported as if men are completely and utterly not responsible. I think it’s really important that we get the women’s stories heard.

 “Your biggest risk as a woman in the UK is that you will be killed by a man that you know, which is a shocking statistic and that cross cuts across class, race and education levels. I think it’s important that we recognise that this is a really really serious problem. I hope things like this can raise awareness and honour the dead.”

The #DeadWomenWalking walk aims to raise awareness of the women behind the statistics of domestic violence murders. The march takes place every year on the Sunday before International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.