Take Back the Night March
Stop the Violence Campaign
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Learning About Take Back the Night
- How did Take Back the Night March start?
- What is Take Back the Night?
- Who participates in a March?
- How do I organize a Take Back the Night March in my community?
- Why do women continue to march year after year?
- What actions are women taking to prevent violence?
The first Take Back the Night event began in England in 1877 as a women-only protest against the violence and fear women encountered walking the streets at night. Based upon this event a similar event was organized in Germany in 1973 as a response to a series of sexual assaults, rapes and murders. Five years later the first U.S. Take Back The Night March was held in San Francisco; more than 5000 women from 30 states participated.
Take Back the Night is an international rally and march that is organized in local communities with the purpose of unifying women, men, and children in an awareness of violence against women, children and families. The event is a collaboration of community and other interested persons who are ready to take a stand against violence and make our communities safe for everyone. The Take Back The Night March is a way for women to come together in a collective voice and demand our rights for freedom of movement during the night without fear and without male escorts.
Take Back The Night marches are held internationally in all parts of the world. Although the march is all women, men can support the march by walking on the sidewalk, distributing flyers, and offering positive encouragement to the marchers.
There is no correct way to organize a Take Back the Night March and rally. Organizers must decide for themselves what is most effective and empowering for their community. Some events are loud and noisy with chanting and singing, while others are carried out solemnly by candlelight. Many organizers have included a speak-out at their events to give survivors the opportunity to express themselves.
For more ideas on how to organize a Take Back the Night March, please read the following documents:
If you have any questions or concerns, please do no hesistate to contact the Qulliit Status of Women Council Office.
Women are much more likely than men to feel worried or unsafe about their personal security. For instance, 42% of women aged 15 and over reported they felt unsafe walking alone in their neighborhood after dark, over four times the figure for men (10%).
Many women also feel worried when they are alone at home at night. 37% of women aged 15 and over reported feeling very or somewhat worried when they were alone in their homes in the evening or at night, three times the figure for men (12%).
Young women are the most likely to be worried when home alone in the evening or at night. 42% of women aged 15-24, compared with 39% of those aged 25-44, 37% of those aged 45-64, and 27% of senior women reported that they worried when they were alone in their homes in the evening or at night.
Many women have begun to take special measures to protect themselves from crime:
- 36% of women aged 15 and over reported that they either modified their activities or routines or began to avoid certain places specifically to protect themselves from crime.
- 22% installed security devices such as new locks or burglar alarms.
- 5% changed their telephone number.
- 4% obtained a dog.
- 4% took a self-defense course.
As well, women were generally more likely than men to have adopted these behaviors to protect themselves. In addition, many women routinely take measures to protect themselves from crime. For instance:
- 68% of women reported that they routinely locked their doors when alone.
- 58% planned their route for reasons of safety.
- 58% checked the back seat of their parked car before getting in.
- 24% stayed at home at night.
- 17% carried some kind of weapon.
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