Diane Rhoden, the Director of Nursing for NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), has delivered a powerful message to men and boys across Birmingham as the city continues to confront Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Addressing the issue, Rhoden emphasized the importance of men actively standing up for women and girls who feel unsafe. In an interview with BirminghamLive, she stated, “It’s about having the courage to support women and girls when they don’t feel safe. Very often, the violence is male on female. Having conversations with other men or standing up for women can make a significant difference.”
As a mother of two boys, Rhoden spoke about the vital conversations that need to happen. “We talk to girls about staying safe, but how often do we engage boys in discussions about making women feel safe?” she asked.
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She highlighted simple yet impactful actions, such as being mindful of how closely one follows a woman down the street. “Even understanding the right distance to maintain behind someone can help women feel safer,” she explained.
Rhoden’s comments came during the recent Justice Walk, an event in collaboration with Birmingham City Council and the WalkSafe personal safety app, held on April 24th. The walk forms part of an ongoing campaign to combat VAWG across the city.
Stressing the long-term nature of the challenge, Rhoden affirmed, “This is not a short-term project; this is forever. We won’t just implement quick fixes and declare Birmingham safe. We need a continuous, committed plan to make things as safe as possible.”
Joining Diane Rhoden on the Justice Walk were Waqar Ahmed, Assistant Director of Community Safety and Resilience at Birmingham City Council, and Emma Kay, CEO of WalkSafe. Together, they demonstrated a united front in promoting safety and encouraging community responsibility in Birmingham city centre.