A Reclaim the Night march will take place in Galway next Wednesday, February 23, against gender-based violence.
The march, organised by the NUI Galway Feminist Society, will commence in Eyre Square at 7.30pm and proceed to the Spanish Arch.
The march follows a similar event held in Dublin and the increasing mobilization on the issue of men’s violence against women following the murder of Ashling Murphy in January, as well as the multiple attacks on women in public spaces since.
According to a recent report by the HEA more than one in three female students in Irish higher education institutes had experienced rape through coercion, incapacitation, force, or threat of force. The report also revealed that less than a third of students felt safe socialising at night on campus or in their local community.
“This issue extends far beyond the university community,” said Aoife Burke, auditor of the Feminist Society in NUI Galway. “Sexual harassment and violence is a common feature of navigating public space as a woman. Despite the prevalence of this abuse, support services are often stretched thin and those who speak out are often shamed and stigmatized. This culture gives rise to the fear, anger, and isolation that many women carry in their daily lives.
“The devastation of gender-based violence can no longer be pushed to one side. Women are entitled to feel safe on our streets and this is a goal we must fight for.”
