Raising Their Voice: The Women’s Institute and 16 Days of Activism

At 16 Days of Activism Penzance, we’re made up of people from all walks of life – each of us bringing our own perspective and passion to the campaign. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from different members of the organising team about why we got involved and what this work means to us.

This week, we hear from one of our campaigners, Helen Kestle, who is also an active member of the Women’s Institute (WI).

As a member of the 16 Days Penzance organising team, I’m proud to see people coming together to work to eliminate violence against women and girls. We are a dedicated, supportive group and are all full of ideas, passion and enthusiasm.

When I’m not wearing my 16 Days of Activism hat, I put on my WI hat. I am currently a trustee of the National Federation of WIs, as well as being a member of three local WIs in Cornwall – Gulval WI, Carbis Baybes WI and the virtual WI, CyberCats.

“The WI has always been a catalyst for change — activists from day one.”

A lot of people have an outdated view of the WI as a ‘ladies’ club’ full of women of a certain age wearing twin sets and pearls and making Victoria sponge cakes. Trust me, that could not be further from the truth. In fact, it has never been an accurate portrayal.

The WI has, since its inception 110 years ago, been a catalyst for change. WI members up and down the country are, and have always been, activists.

When it comes to violence against women and girls, the WI is very outspoken.

The WI actively campaigns for an end to male violence against women

Recently, the organisation has backed amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill, which the government introduced in May of this year. The Bill is meant to improve the treatment of victims by the criminal justice system, but some of the most traumatised victims – survivors of rape and domestic abuse – are still being criminalised or silenced.

The amendments the WI backs are:

• To protect rape survivors from character assassination in court by limiting when ‘bad character’ evidence can be used and ensuring that only relevant evidence is admitted.

• To introduce statutory defences for survivors of domestic abuse coerced into offending or who use force in self-defence against their abuser.

  
  

Further, the Bill makes no references to the disparities experienced by Black and minoritised women and migrant women.

“Black and minoritised women and migrant women are disproportionately impacted by failures in the justice system.”

Migrant women are criminalised upon arrival in the UK, and their experiences of violence – including institutional racism, language barriers, and lack of tailored support – are often ignored.

The WI in Wales is particularly active on the issue of violence against women and girls. A candle-lit vigil to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence will be held on 17 November at the Senedd (the Welsh parliament), led by the WI.

Earlier in the day, a session will be held with guest speakers Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice; Lynne Elliott, Chief Executive, White Ribbon UK; and Professor Olga Jurasz, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Protecting Women Online.

Spice Girl Mel B talks about her lived experience of domestic abuse

Along with thousands of other WI members, I attended the 2024 National WI Annual Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where the theme for the day was violence against women and girls. Guest speaker Nazir Afsal OBE, former prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, gave a landmark speech on the pandemic of violence against women and girls. We also heard from actor Timothy Watson, best known for his role as the coercive Rob Titchener in BBC Radio 4's The Archers. The final speaker of the day was Spice Girl Mel B MBE, who talked openly and movingly about her lived experience of an abusive 10-year marriage.

“With nearly 200,000 members nationwide, the WI is a force to be reckoned with.”

Through in-person meetings and via its social media platforms, the WI has been a leading voice on the issue of violence against women and girls — and one I’m proud to be a member of.

If you're interested in joining your local WI, please visit the WI online and find out which groups are near you.

The Women’s Institute is just one example of how people and organisations are stepping up to challenge violence against women and girls. Within our Penzance group, each of us is involved for different reasons – but together we’re united in the same cause. Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to share these stories and shine a light on why this campaign matters so deeply to us all.