“They cut, we bleed. It’s a powerful mantra and the four words Sisters Uncut were shouting for hours during their protesting against austerity cuts and male violence this weekend in Soho Square. The protest was funeral themed and attended by over 500 women, many of whom were domestic violence survivors and support workers.
Women are inarguably being adversely affected by these cuts to a dangerous degree. More than 30 specialist anti-domestic violence services have been forced to shut down since 2010, with many other services taken over by non-specialist providers. These cuts leave women at real risk of domestic violence – two British women a week die at the hands of a male partner or ex-partner.
The march was timed in response to the deep cuts to council budgets last week, which ironically coincided with with International Day to End Violence Against Women. Ama Roberts from Sisters Uncut said: “Many people don't realise that cuts to local councils equate to cuts to domestic violence support services. They are a lifeline. If more services shut down, more women will die.’”
