JESS PHILLIPS: ‘Every lady killed by a person is an emblem of society’s collective failure’

Minister Jess Phillips writes for the Mirror on the overwhelming weight of the moment when she reads the list of women killed by men in the past year in Parliament

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There are moments in this job that feel ceremonial. Routine, planned, procedural.

But when I take to the dispatch box today to read the names of every woman suspected of being killed by a man in the past 12 months, the ceremony of this job is stripped away.

Because reading these names – as I do every year – exposes the dark reality that women in this country and across the world experience every day. This is a day that never gets easier. And, by honouring these women in this way, I am struck by the profound responsibility I hold.

Because each name is a symbol of the collective failure of our Parliament, our institutions, and our society to protect women from harm.

And today I stand up, not just as a Minister or as an MP, but also as one of a record 265 women MPs, as we come together to mark International Women’s Day.

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And I am reminded of the incredible social, cultural, academic and political achievements of women around the world.

But that is precisely why I choose this day – because how can we pay tribute to women around the world – without recognising the lived experience of so many.

And this is a reality that many would prefer stayed hidden. But if we use this day to simply congratulate ourselves while women are being murdered – that isn’t progress. That’s a performance.

So, this moment means everything to me. Not just because we have the chance to honour lives tragically cut so short, but because of what it says about who we are as a country, and whose safety we choose to prioritise. But this isn’t my moment.

This moment belongs to these women, and to all women and girls who live with threats, abuse and harassment, and who so often pay with their lives. And yes, this is the hardest day of the year.

My voice catches, I hold back tears, and the weight of the emotion of the day can be overwhelming.

But however uncomfortable it feels, however heavy the weight of the moment, I will continue to honour women in this way. And I know we must continue the fight, so women and girls feel safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their workplaces.

That’s why we are deploying the full power of the state to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Because this isn’t just another government policy – this is a lifeline.

And because it is the way to truly honour these women. By placing the protection of women and girls at the heart of everything we do. And I will not stop there.

I will do whatever it takes to make this country safe for women and girls.