Reclaim The Night: After-dark march highlighting women's safety taking place in Derby this weekend

Derby women will take to the streets after dark to participate in Reclaim The Night March which aims to raise awareness of harassment and abuse against females.

Organisers of the night march which takes place on Saturday, November 25, 2023, also hope to amplify survivor voices and highlight work being done on change-making projects.

The march will be attended by the city's Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor promoting their White Ribbon campaign which is a movement trying to engage men and boys to end violence against women and girls.

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The Council House will be illuminated in purple in solidarity, and a new Derby Speaks Up website will be launched, that organisers say will ‘empower everyone to tackle misogyny to make Derby a better place to live, love, work and play.’

The march, which is marked nationally, dates back to the 1970s and was started in response to police advising women to stay indoors at night.

Women in cities around the UK will be walking, singing, chanting, chalking and illuminating the dark as they call for more action and resources to prevent and address misogynist abuse and violence. 

Marchers will carry placards with messages such as Fear Is Not Freedom, One Woman Killed Is One Too Many, and No Means No. 

They will also speak up about cuts to under-resourced services the shortfalls of local agencies in addressing women's safety and the causes of misogyny. 

Derby’s march will begin with activities at The Spot from 7pm, where speakers will include the Deputy Youth Mayor, along with chalking and songs from the Rebel Women's Choir.

The march will travel through the city centre, passing party-goers and showing placards through the busy restaurant windows along St Peter’s Street and Market Place. 

The march will then proceed to a rally outside the Council House from 8.15pm concluding by 9pm. 

Male allies are encouraged to join the rally where Derby’s Youth Mayor will be promoting his chosen White Ribbon campaign outside the Council House that will be adorned with ribbons and illuminated in purple in support of the event. 

Inspiring local speakers including survivors, women's charity workers and campaigners will shine a light on the issues and raise awareness of support groups, interventions, helplines and preventative healthy relationship education projects. 

In the build-up to the event, women and children also took part in a banner-making session, hosted at Derby Women’s Centre earlier this month.

Reclaim the Night organiser Vanessa Boon, Chair of International Women’s Day (IWD) Derby, said "We follow in the footsteps of generations of women who have marched to challenge misogynistic attitudes and behaviours, harmful myths and victim-blaming narratives that analyse women.

"It is always liberating to create an alternative in contrast to many after-dark walks, asserting our right to roam free from fear and for all women to be safe in their own homes." 

A wonderful night and an amazing experience

Sarah Quincey, Co-Secretary of International Women's Day Derby, said: "I've been to the previous Reclaim The Night marches in Derby, both as a volunteer and just to take part.

"The collective action from so many women, marching together, singing and making themselves known made me feel so empowered and strong. It is such a wonderful sight and an amazing experience, both for me and my teenage daughter."

Hope, who is a teenager volunteering with the organisers, said: “It's an extraordinary experience being surrounded by so many powerful women! The singing, dancing, and marching is so empowering and a wonderful experience."

Reclaim The Night march is organised by International Women’s Day Derby and Vox Feminarum. For more information visit their website by clicking here.