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I found myself to be the only male Tory MP at the flashmob dance held in Parliament Square today by the One Billion Rising campaign about violence against women. I was only too happy to be there. I am sure there would have been more if they had known about it.
Most violence against women is done by men. That sounds like an understatement. This is not just something that happens in war-torn foreign countries. This happens in our own towns, cities and villages.
Only recently, Essex MPs (mostly Tories) had an urgent meeting with Essex police about the handling - mishandling - of cases of violence against women. Gone are the days (I am pleased to say) that the police will report that "it was only a domestic".
Most women who are raped, beaten up or murdered are victims of someone they say they know, or even someone that they love.
Violence against women is endemic in every constituency. It is classless. It happens to rich women as well as to poor women, regardless of education, age, religion or none.
Why did I go? Violence against women affects men. These women are our mothers, sisters, partners, daughters. No man would dismiss this campaign whose life has been touched by violence against someone he loves. But I went because men have to be part of this campaign. We cannot leave women to try fix this problem on their own. Men commit most of the violence. Men still run so many of the institutions - the police, the judges, the courts system - which historically were poor at addressing the causes of violence against women - or dealing humanely with the victims.
Men should be passionate about this campaign, because we can help stop it, and by caring about it we are merely demonstrating that we are human beings with feelings. We men are brutalised if we regard this as purely a women's issue. This is not disempowering of men. It is liberating for men as well as for women.
There are some men (and women it must be said!) who feel threatened by women's campaigns like this - as though International Women's Day is conceding to women something we men are not able to have for ourselves. It has been International Men's Day in most of the world for most of the time (another understatement?) .
I am happy to confront women who feel that women's rights should be about reining in the men, but there are not many of them. This is about curtailing criminality to towards which there has been turned a historically cultural blind eye. I would urge men to join with the women who are fighting this campaign, because it will make for a world which is safer and more human for all of us.
Follow Bernard Jenkin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bernardjenkin
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But we also need to enjoin in activities to support women and children. Problem is that society is turning into such a dystopia it's hard to think where and how to start toward a better outcome, a brighter future for us all. We'll get no help from politicians.
So cut the patronising tone and remember, women are capable of thinking for themselves.
Could i just make a point to MP's of all persuations?
This is clearly an important issue and if its an issue you feel strongly about, why bring in cross party sniping? It does you and the cause you are trying to discuss a diservice.
Stand up for what you believe and leave the sniping to the "other side". Hopefully people will then see an honest promotion of a cause, rather than bandwagon jumping for votes.
Just a thought.
Will you take to task the likes of Philip Davies MP who spoke out AGAINST OBRUK yesterday?
Abusers are about power and control, this should be taught to our children by parents and society at an early age. This isn't about it being a 'private' matter between couples. Young people are being bullied and sexualised at an early age. Will you back the proposal to make it compulsory for education about relationships and what is right and what is wrong to start in primary schools?
As a survivor who spent years being controlled very subtly and then being assaulted and fleeing my home with my 2 small children - I feel so compelled to fight against every one's assumption that women should just leave, it's a private matter, all couples row!
What are you doing as an MP to tackle this massive issue?
Perhaps if these groups spoke about domestic violence in it's entirety more people would feel inclined to join the debate and we'd start to make some headway.