Call for action on male violence as bench unveiled for Sarah Everard anniversary
The bench features a brightly coloured mosaic with a motif of hearts and stars.

Womenās safety campaigners have said āmore needs to be doneā a year on from Sarah Everardās murder as they joined local politicians to unveil a bench commemorating victims of male violence.
Members of Reclaim Suttonās Streets, an offshoot of the larger group Reclaim These Streets, demanded āfundamental changeā as they spoke at the ribbon-cutting event in the townās Trinity Square in south London.
Nearly 100 people, including Mayor Trish Fivey, braved the rainy weather to gather in the square on Saturday and pay tribute to all women who have been killed by men.
The bench, which features a brightly coloured mosaic with a motif of hearts and stars, was created by artists Samia Tossio and Hana Horack-Elyafi after campaigners received planning permission from Sutton Council.
Sarah McGuinness, head of the campaign group, hailed the community effort as evidence of progress but said it had come āat such a high costā.
āWeād had enough and we wanted to make our streets safe,ā she said.
āAt last there is a genuine, cross-party, local commitment to end gender-based violence, but itās at such a high cost.
āSlogans like āshe was just walking home, she was just going for a runā put women in a hierarchy against other women. We would never hear āshe was just going for a one-night standā. Why is it that women are sometimes blamed, more so than the predator?
āWe have come so far but the language has got to change.ā
Ms Fivey said the past week had been a āvery sad reminderā of Ms Everardās murder as well as other victims of male violence.
āToday, weāre here to unveil this very moving tribute to all women and girls who have died as a result of male violence, no matter who they were or where they lived,ā she added.
The benchās surface is inscribed with the words ānever commit, never excuse, never be silent,ā a phrase used by the White Ribbon Campaign.
Its approval came after women and girls expressed their anguish over the murders of Ms Everard and schoolteacher Sabina Nessa and asked what could be done to recognise the need for change.
Saturdayās event was scheduled in between the anniversary of Ms Everardās death on March 4 and International Womenās Day on March 8.
Women in the crowd also shared the ways in which they had become more ācautiousā and āanxiousā while alone in public since Ms Everardās death.
Joyce Bossey, a local florist who spoke at the event, said the unveiling had been āwonderful but emotionalā.
Reflecting on the recent anniversary of Ms Everardās death, Ms Bossey said it had left women ātraumatisedā and there was still a ānervousness and anxietyā about walking in public.
She also expressed ambivalence about the Metropolitan Policeās new Walk And Talk scheme, in which women are invited to ābuddy upā with officers while travelling through areas in which they feel vulnerable and share their concerns.
āThe police are not going to be walking through the park at night chaperoning you (all the time). Thatās not going to be, unfortunately.
āItās a good idea but change comes through education in our schools. It starts thereā.
Sheila Butter, 54, said: āI personally donāt even go out in the dark any more. I donāt go out in the evening any more.
āWe feel we have to (change our behaviour) but it should not be that way. Itās about men changing their behaviour, ultimately.ā
She said putting the bench in a popular town square was a step towards the community at large being forced to confront the reality of violence against women.
āI will show my son (the bench) and talk to him about why itās here,ā Ms Butter said.
Nicola Weatherill, a 49-year-old teaching assistant, said: āIāve become even more cautious (since Ms Everardās murder). I feel like Iāve stepped up what Iām doing,ā she said.
She added āanything that sparks a conversationā would help to keep the issue in the spotlight.
Ms McGuinness said she hoped the bench would serve as a āpermanent wayā of remembering all those who have been victims of male violence.
āWe are going forward but there is still so much to be done,ā she added.