Despite the heatwave of Saturday, 12 July, residents and councillors of Richmond and Kingston joined for the boroughs' first joint White Ribbon Walk to make a public display against violence towards women and girls (VAWG).

The walk started at Hampton Wick Station and crossed Kingston Bridge into the town centre as a show of solidarity and a call to action.

On the walk were councillors, MPs, survivors, and community members aiming to end the silence around gender-based violence.

Councillor Katie Mansfield, White Ribbon Champion for Richmond Council, reminded attendees that the crisis is not an abstract concern, but it is happening here locally.

"Only 50% of girls were able to say that they have never been harassed in a school environment," she said.

"That is Kingston, that is Richmond. This is not just something that is happening somewhere else."

Cllr Mansfield pointed to local initiatives such as the haven in Barnes and the safe space at Richmond Station on Saturday nights, where people can come and talk about any issues they may be encountering.

"It is important to call it out. If you see something that looks wrong, if you hear something that sounds a bit misogynistic, those are the building blocks," she said.

The MP for Twickenham, Munira Wilson highlighted a grim national statistic.

"3000 offences are reported to the police daily involving violence against women and girls, and 1 in 3 of us women will experience violence during our lifetime," she said.

She also praised a new government commitment to include domestic abuse as an aggravated offence, ensuring that offenders are not released early due to prison overcrowding.

One of the most poignant moments of the event came from Tracy, a survivor who benefited from and supports local charity, Voices of Hope, which supports survivors of gender-based violence.

"I began to trust and open up," she said.

"I could not have done this without the help, love and support I get from voices of hope, the survivors forum, and the friends I have made there."

The councillor for Hampton, Cllr Sam Dalton, 24 years old, said his generation must act.

"My demographic needs to be made aware that what they say and the way they behave has consequences," he said.

"Saying stuff on WhatsApp groups, joking, can lead down the line to a girl being attacked and murdered. Hopefully people realise that they can be part of the solution by calling out harmful behaviours."

Richmond councillor, Cllr Ben Cosa, who helped Richmond become White Ribbon accredited, stressed the importance of encouraging these conversations.

"There used to be stigma attached to it, people did not want to talk about it. We want to raise awareness of the issue," he said.

He encouraged people to wear the white ribbon, to spark conversations about the issue.

At the end of the walk, Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Sir Ed Davey reflected on the matter.

"You do not have to be a Liberal Democrat to believe in a more liberal society. And we will not get a more liberal society until we deal with the epidemic of violence against women and children," he said.

He warned of the worsening of the online world and political discourses in relation to the issue and urged men to actively support women and raise awareness in their everyday lives.

He added: "In our own communities, in our own parties, in our own organisations, our own business, this will be a problem."

"Do not think it is not a problem in the organisations you are involved in."

The Mayor of Kingston, Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, ended the event with hopeful comments.

He cited White Ribbon research that shows 87% of supporters have raised the issue at work and that 100% of active advocates believe the fight can be won.

"In this day and age, that is so reassuring. And yet the road is so hard. Thank you for taking some of the few steps from Hampton Wick to Kingston on that road," he said.

You can find out more about the White Ribbon campaign and how to support it here.

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