A FLASH mob met in the city as part of a protest at violence against women and girls.

The group of women put on masks and held the two-minute silent protest on Saturday as part of the White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence.

Joanna Midgley, from West Mercia Women’s Aid, said: “There was around 40 of us that stood outside the guildhall at 12pm in Worcester. A whistle blew, we put on masks and stood in silence for two minutes with hashtags on highlighting this important issue. One in three girls will experience sexual or physical abuse in their lifetime globally. We had placards of notices highlighting the number of women murdered this year at the hands of male violence.”

The women were joined by the Women’s Equality Party for the protest to highlight the prevalent nature of violence against women.

Protestors lined the city’s high street and urged people to sign a petition to call on the government to require all jurors to receive training in rape and sexual assault cases.

Leisa Taylor, from the Women’s Equality Party said: “The statistics are shocking – in this country two women are killed every week by a current or former partner. Thousands more suffer from physical and mental abuse every day.

“Yet services that support women to leave abusive relationships and provide advocacy for survivors of sexual violence have seen their funding slashed under austerity. It’s vital that we do all we can to raise awareness of violence against women, tell victims and survivors they are not alone, and despite funding cuts, there are still organisations doing amazing work to support women.”

The women also handed out leaflets and posters outside the Guildhall.

The protest was organised by the Worcestershire branch of the Women’s Equality Party and supported by West Mercia Women’s Aid and West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre.

The White Ribbon campaign was launched on November 25, and ran until the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.

Local helplines available: Domestic Violence helpline: 08009803331, WM Rape & Sexual Assault Support Centre: 01905724514 and The Glade: 08081782058.