Atherton MP takes part in rally highlighting violence to women
5:10pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 in North West
MP Julie Hilling, front left, with campaigners in London.
ATHERTON MP Julie Hilling took part in a campaign rally outside the Houses of Parliament to make a stand to end violence against women and girls.
Thousands of The One Billion Rising campaigners from across Britain came together last Thursday at 150 different events as MPs debated a motion calling on the Government to make relationship education a requirement in schools. Activists in the UK have joined a worldwide movement in almost 200 other countries to call for renewed efforts to end violence against women.
Speaking about the campaign, Julie Hilling. MP for Bolton West, said: “When we live in a country where 750,000 children witness acts of domestic abuse a year and a third of girls in relationships aged 13-17 have experienced physical or sexual violence in relationships, when one in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime it’s time for all of us to stand up and say enough."
"I am proud to be backing One Billion Rising by supporting the call to make a zero tolerance approach to violence in relationships part of the school curriculum. Keeping our young people safe is so important and teaching both boys and girls about positive relationships and respect in schools are key to this."
Ms Hilling spoke during the debate in Parliament about ciolence against women and girls. She pointed out that two women are killed every week in the UK and outlined stories of women and girls she had previously worked with, who had blamed themselves for being beaten or abused.
She also highlighted the need for relationship education in schools as well as sex education. She said “It is essential in building assertiveness in girls so that they do not accept that they should be hit and controlled.”
A 2010 YouGov poll found that almost a third of 16-18-year-old girls said they have been subjected to unwanted sexual touching at school, and the NSPCC found that a third of girls in relationships aged 13-17 have experienced physical or sexual violence in relationships, while one in 16 of this group reported experiencing rape.
