An attack on women

Published: 18 November, 2010

• I WAS alarmed, not to say actually outraged, to learn that “it looks like the community safety budget will be worse hit” (by the cuts) “than any other area”.  

Why is a service which mainly affects women under such threat?

Maybe the reason is it always seems to be women who are victims of government (including local authority) action; at least far more than men.  

I was recently informed, by a campaign called Climate Rush, of an appalling event which took place 100 years ago, on November 18 1910: two women were injured, and later died, because they tried to enter Parliament. 

They were part of a group of Suffragettes who went to Westminster to demand a debate on the Conciliation Bill, which would have given some women basic voting rights. Of the 300 who came 200 women were arrested that day. There were 6,000 police. 

There is a vigil, Remember the Suffragettes, today (Thursday) at 6.30pm, on Stephen’s Green opposite St Stephen’s Gate to Parliament, on this 100th anniversary.

Climate Rush also offer a number of statistics about the present-day situation of women.

Fewer than one in five MPs is a woman; only 1 per cent of the world’s money is controlled by women; for every 10 people displaced by climate change seven  are women.  

The proposed attack on the community safety budget seems to me to be an extension of these.

MARGARET KING
Belsize Grove, NW3