Reports of violence against women and girls across the West Midlands are continuing to rise, prompting charities, artists and community groups to call for sustained action that lasts far beyond annual awareness campaigns.
As the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence takes place, organisations across the region say this year carries a particular urgency, especially as the focus turns to the growing issue of online violence.
Although the numbers of women coming forward have increased, frontline services stress that the problem itself is far from new. Laura Rogers, Chief Executive of The Haven Wolverhampton, says the region is finally seeing the true scale of what many women have endured quietly for years.
While issues of violence against women and girls have always been prevalent, we are only now seeing more people come forward to report them whilst seeing inadequate action to challenge it.
Laura Rogers, Chief Executive of The Haven Wolverhampton
She added that the 16 Days campaign aims to raise awareness of the violence that continues to affect so many women, with this year’s spotlight on online spaces because that is increasingly where people now live their lives.
Our hope is that the attention generated during these 16 days continues throughout the year, not just during the campaign period.
Laura Rogers, Chief Executive of The Haven Wolverhampton
The Haven has also supported the Orange Wolves event in Wolverhampton, where the community came together through a flag raising and a march to highlight available support and to stand with survivors.
We have been proud to support Orange Wolves and to stand with the community through the flag raising and march, helping to spread awareness of the support available.
Laura Rogers, Chief Executive of The Haven Wolverhampton
As the campaign gains momentum, grassroots groups across Birmingham are also bringing forward evidence that shows how deeply the issue affects everyday life. Girls Club Birmingham has gained significant attention after compiling the voices of hundreds of women in an open letter. Lo Ranfaing, who co-founded the group, says the responses reflect a reality many experience but rarely report.
I have collated the experiences of more than four hundred women, and it is heartbreaking to see their stories gathered in one place.
Lo Ranfaing, Co-founder of The Girls Club Birmingham
She explained that these accounts range from catcalling to physical harassment and abuse, all of which contribute to a wider feeling of unsafety in the city. Her open letter goes beyond personal testimony to include statistics that illustrate rising safety concerns, along with four Freedom of Information requests submitted to public bodies and the responses received.
Ayan Aden, Birmingham Poet Laureate and ambassador for the Muslim Safety Net, has also been amplifying the conversation through both creative and community focused work. She says poetry is her way of building connection and encouraging people to engage with their own cultural histories and identities.
Poetry feels innate to me. As a Somali woman, I come from a land of poets, surrounded by storytelling in our culture and history. Engaging in art allows our creative selves to roam freely and brings us back together as a community.
Ayan Aden, Birmingham Poet Laureate and Ambassador for Muslim Safety Net
Through her workshops and outreach programmes, she is working to place poetry at the heart of Birmingham’s creative landscape and open it up to more young people and women.
Ayan’s role with the Muslim Safety Net addresses another pressing issue across the region. The platform, launched by the Muslim Women’s Network and Baroness Shaista Gohir, provides a safe reporting route for Muslims experiencing hate crimes.
One of the biggest barriers is that we often do not report incidents. Aggression becomes normalised because people are simply trying to survive. When survival takes priority, the quiet resilience of pushing forward stops you from reflecting on what is happening around you. This initiative gives people their voice back.
Ayan Aden, Birmingham Poet Laureate and Ambassador for Muslim Safety Net
Across the West Midlands, there is now a growing call for long-term commitment that extends beyond the 16-day campaign period. Community groups say that while awareness matters, meaningful change will depend on consistent investment, honest conversations, and support for those who continue to speak out. As the region confronts rising levels of violence against women and girls, the hope shared by many is that these weeks of activism become the foundation for sustained action and a safer future for all.