A Reclaim the Night march will see protesters take to the streets of Aberdeen two months after the alleged murder of Scots mum Jill Barclay.
Those walking in the protest on Friday will demand changes are made to the city so women can safely walk the streets at night.
Mum-of-two Jill was allegedly attacked in the Dyce area on Saturday September 17, while she was walking home. The 47-year-old's body was discovered near an address on Stoneywood Road at around 3.30am by police and fire crews who closed down the area for several hours. Rhys Bennett, 22, was arrested and charged in connection with Jill's death. He will stand trial accused of murdering Jill along with a second allegation of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
Campaign group Aberdeen Women's Alliance (AWA) organised the event in the wake of Jill's death and say women have the right to feel safe on the streets.
Fiona Rennie, convenor for AWA said Jill's tragic death has had a major impact on the local community, with safety concerns further escalated by the Covid pandemic and lack of taxis.
"Jill's death has impacted the local community," she said. "With the dark nights happening people are going home at 3pm as they don't feel safe in the dark.
"This march is for every single woman in Aberdeen. How many people are not going out in the dark anymore because that [Jill's death] has happened?
"Since coronavirus taxis are not as frequent in the city centre and people don't feel safe walking home alone in the dark.
"It is so important to stand up and say we are here. It is a show of unity to highlight what is happening. It needs to be known that we want to be walking the streets safely."
The event will begin on the city's St Nicholas Street at 5.30pm on Friday which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
A quiet moment of reflection will also take place in honour of women who have been subjected to violence on the streets.
Leader of Aberdeen Labour and member of AWA, Sandra Macdonald has been helping to organise the event. She said: "I felt so strongly about having the march this year as a member of AWA. Women should have the right to feel safe on our streets.
"Jill's death has affected so many women of different ages and it has heightened everyone's safety concerns.
"We know that the majority of violence against women comes from men and often it is men that women know. We need to ensure everything is being done by organisations and society to make our streets safer."
The march comes as three Scottish charities working on the frontline of Violence against Women and Girls received a one-year grant of up to £25,000. Angus Women's Aid, Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland and Amina-the Muslim Women's Resource Centre all received funding from Rosa’s Stand With Us fund which was set up to continue the fundraising efforts of Reclaim These Streets in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.
- Rape Crisis Scotland can be contacted from 5pm to 12am on 08088010302 via phone, 07537410027 via text and on support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk via email.
- The Scottish Women's Rights Centre helpline is available on 08088010789 from 10am to 12:30pm on Monday's, 12pm to 3pm on Tuesday's and 10am to 1pm on Wednesday's.
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