Hundreds join women's march through city centre

The event in Cambridge was in support of the recently-formed UK Women's March movement

Hundreds of people joined a march through a city centre in protest at violence against women and girls.

The gathering, in Cambridge, was one of several events across the country and was set up by the UK's Women's March group, launched in November.

As well as highlighting safety concerns, people taking part said they wanted to be a voice for women who were losing theirs in other parts of the world.

Alix Valentine, one of the organisers, said: "Every single person has come to make their voice heard - to be the voice of people who have had their voices taken away."

Alix Valentine helped organise the march in Cambridge and said women needed to have their voices heard, regardless of where they lived in the world

She said she had been amazed by the numbers who had gathered at the starting point in Jesus Green.

"I don't have words for it – the amount of support being shown for our movement is just exponential," she said.

"The other cities, as well, have had such a good turnout.

"It is time for us to make a stand and I think this is testament to that."

Ms Valentine said those on the march were worried about the erosion and lack of women's rights across the world, particularly in countries including Afghanistan, Iran and the US.

"Our aim is a world where everyone is equal," she said.

The marches have been held amid increasing reports of violence against women, described as an "epidemic" by police chiefs.

In September, the UK government said it was treating violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a "national emergency".

It vowed to outline its strategy to halve the crimes later this year.

In 2024, the National Police Chiefs' Council said more than a million VAWG-related crimes were recorded during 2022/23 – making up about a fifth of all police recorded crime.

It also said offences had risen by 37% between 2018 and 2023.

One in every six murders related to domestic abuse in 2022/23, with suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse rising year-on-year, it also reported.