Million Women Rise March

London, 8 March 2008

I am honoured and truly delighted to be among so many amazing women for this, the largest ever women-only march this country has ever seen.

And I’m humbled and inspired by the courage that I see in women all around me – many who are survivors of domestic violence and rape and abuse, but who are also determined never to let that define them.  

And I’m angry that, in the 21st century, this march is still necessary

-   Angry at the collective failure of legal, economic and political systems to deliver full equality to women.

-   Angry at the continuing exploitation of women through the media and advertising

-   Angry at the criminalization of women who are trafficked or seek asylum in this country because they are at risk from male violence

Being here in Trafalgar Square reminds me of the countless marches and demonstrations that have been held here to protest against the horror of war.

But in those demonstrations and marches, we seldom reflect on the particular experience of women, when rape is used as a deliberate instrument of war.

The use of rape in conflict is designed to intimidate and humiliate whole peoples into submission, just as it is used in peace time to oppress, subjugate and destroy.

But we are rising up – today and every day – resisting, staying strong, celebrating our survival. 

And so today we also honour the bravery, and salute the dignity of women who exhibit so much courage, in their response to rape and sexual violence, or in the rebuilding of their lives.

I want to acknowledge the suffering, the courage, and sometimes the heroism of all women, of all nations in every time, who were raped, sexually coerced or exploited, in war …and in the “peace”, those who died…. and those who survived.   And so we pay tribute to them.

Here in Britain, less than 6% of reported rape cases lead to a conviction.

That figure is a damning indictment of our political establishment’s entrenched and institutional discrimination against women, who face a legal system which regards a man as "innocent until proven guilty", condemning us as women to being "guilty until proven innocent."

Reports in the media just this week have revealed how police are contributing to this appalling conviction rate by settling for mediocrity in their inquiries.  And so we say Enough, No More.

-    No more complicity in crimes against women

-    No more marginalisation of women and our needs

-     And most of all - No more violence against women

As a woman politician, I want to see more women in politics, and more women in public life, so we can have a greater influence over the policies that affect us. 

I want to pledge to do everything in my power to pressurise our own government, and the EU, to put in place measures to prevent violence, to end discrimination, to provide good quality women-only support services, and to ensure women and children have effective legal protection.

That’s why this week, in the European Parliament, I’m calling for the appointment of a European Envoy on Women’s rights, to make sure every policy decision takes into account women’s rights; and to ensure that every woman in the world will know that Europe has a female face and a telephone number, and that it is with us as we struggle to defend our rights, and the rights of our sisters around the world.

At Greenham Common, we used to sing wonderful songs like “you can’t kill the spirit", and "We shall overcome."

It’s clear that the spirit here today is still very strong, still very much alive.  And joining all of you here today, I’m even more sure that we shall overcome.

ENDS