This weekend marked the end of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence for 2022, and it’s important to reflect on how the campaign has highlighted the scale of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and spread awareness in our communities of the support that is available to victims and survivors.

It’s also the time to reiterate and reinforce the role that men must play in ending VAWG. For communities across my home borough of Redbridge, Zara Aleena, who was killed on her way home from a night out with friends, will be at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers this week as her killer is sentenced and brought to justice.