An NHS director in Birmingham has issued a message to men and boys in the city, urging them to play a role in the ongoing fight against Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Call for Courage
Diane Rhoden, director of nursing for NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), emphasised the importance of men having the courage to intervene when they see women feeling vulnerable. Speaking to BirminghamLive, she said: "It's having the courage to stand up and support women and girls when they don't feel safe."
She highlighted that violence is often male-on-female, and that a conversation between men, or a man standing up for a woman, can make a significant difference. As a mother of two boys, Rhoden noted that while parents often talk to daughters about staying safe, they must also talk to sons about how to make women feel safe.
Practical Actions
The NHS director explained that small actions, such as how closely a man follows a woman down the street, can affect her sense of safety. She stressed the need for men to be aware of their presence and distance in public spaces.
Justice Walk Event
Rhoden spoke about tackling VAWG during the Justice Walk on April 24, organised with Birmingham City Council and the WalkSafe app. She described the effort as a "forever" commitment, not a short-term project. "We aren't going to put a few things in to make Birmingham be safer and it be safe," she said. "It's a forever plan. We can just make things as good as we can do."
The director joined Waqar Ahmed, assistant director of community safety and resilience at Birmingham City Council, and Emma Kay, CEO of WalkSafe, for the walk through the city centre.
