A public meeting is scheduled to take place in Derry next week to discuss the series of recent violent attacks against women in the city.
Organisers Alliance for Choice Derry are calling on women and LGBTQ+ members in the community to come together to create solutions to campaign around in the wake of the attacks.
The event, which is to be held at St Columb’s Hall on November 14, follows two more incidents of violence against women in the city over the weekend.
More: Police investigating second sexually motivated attack on women in Derry in two days
“Following the recent string of attacks against women and girls in Derry, we understand people are scared, exhausted and angered,” event organisers said.
Following the recent string of attacks against women and girls in Derry, we understand people are scared, exhausted and...
Posted by Alliance for Choice Derry on Sunday 3 November 2024
“We want you to get involved and have your voice heard. We want our community to come together to create a list of demands we can campaign around, to make things better for our sisters.”
The group added that due to the sensitive nature of the topic, men will not be admitted to this meeting.
However, as their campaign progress, they said this “will likely change”.
On Friday, a woman was assaulted in a sexually motivated attack in the Drumahoe area of the city before fighting off an armed attacker with a torch.
This was followed by a second woman being attacked whilst walking her dog in the Top of the Hill area at around 3pm on Saturday.
The man involved in this incident was also armed with a knife and police are investigating to determine if the two attacks are linked.
Police have announced that they have implemented a “focused, tactical patrolling plan” which includes “a high visibility police presence in key areas” and “an increased police presences across the city in the coming days”.
The attacks have been condemned by politicians in the city.
SLDP MLA for Foyle, Mark Durkan, said: “My thoughts are with those women who have been victims of violence and the trauma that such harrowing incidents cause.
“The awful series of attacks in Derry recently has led to an outpouring of stories from women about how the fear of violence from men impacts on their daily lives.
My thoughts are with those women who have been victims of violence and the trauma that such harrowing incidents...
Posted by Mark H Durkan on Sunday 3 November 2024
“Many women make choices on where they go, what they wear, how they act based on this fear.
“As a society, often our focus is on educating our daughters how to stay safe and avoid danger,” he added.
“We need to be just as, if not even more, focused on educating our sons on how they should act.”
