MPs fell silent today as Jess Phillips read the names of 110 women suspected of being killed by men in the past year. The Home Office minister carried out the sombre tradition for the 11th year, honouring women killed by a man or where a man has been charged since the last International Women's Day.
Ms Phillips told MPs: 'The reason I stood to be elected to Parliament in the first place is that while we are gathered here in the heart of our democracy to discuss these issues in comfort and in safety, beyond these walls, in every part of our country, women and girls are suffering.' She called for the women to 'get the justice that they deserved' and for them to be honoured 'by preventing others from suffering the same fate'.
The list includes Courtney Angus, 21, killed by Michael Doherty in Batley, West Yorkshire; Brenda Breed, 87, found dead at her home with her son on trial for murder; and Vanessa Whyte, 45, and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, shot dead in their home. Stephanie Blundell, 41, was violently attacked by her boyfriend and left to die with more than 100 injuries; Isobella Knight, 32, was murdered by her husband; and Dawn Kerr, 56, was the victim of a murder-suicide in France.
Clarrie O'Callaghan of the Femicide Census said: 'Every name Jess Philips reads out is a woman who would still be here but for men’s violence and abuse.' Karen Ingala Smith added: 'Femicide is not a gateway crime. Behind so many cases there is evidence of repeated and/or escalating abuse where interventions by the authorities could have changed the outcome.'
