I'm afraid to walk home at night and things can't go on like this

Emma Ludley Hunt is the lead organiser of the Liverpool march
-Credit:Emma Ludley Hunt


A woman has said a crowd is expected to gather in the city centre to avoid the erosion of human rights “at all costs”. Emma Ludley Hunt, originally from Formby, is one of many who plan to take action against an ongoing national emergency.

The 24-year-old, who now lives in Ainsdale, is set to march with marginalised groups whose rights are under threat. The Liverpool gathering is part of a bigger act of solidarity, as 22 other regional marches are planned to take place on Saturday, January 18.

Lead organiser Emma told the ECHO: “It’s always been important to stand up for women’s rights, but particularly now. For decades, rights have been moving forward and progressing, but in recent years, they have come to a halt and gone backwards in many ways.

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“Violence against women in the UK is a national emergency now. Women are losing reproductive rights all over the world and here, too. Whereas the poor women in Afghanistan are facing a complete erosion. This isn’t a feminist march; this is a women’s march for our rights going back to the 1900s."

The march muster begins outside St George’s Hall at 12 pm, with speeches and performances taking place for the first hour. Following this, the group will take a city centre route before returning outside the Grade II listed building.

Emma, a freelance content creator and TV and film industry worker, said: “This is something I’ve always been passionate about. I was inspired by Emma Watson on our screens speaking out about feminism. I’ve experienced misogyny myself, and I’ve seen my friends go through things - things that aren’t particularly nice.

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“I fear walking home alone in the dark. I had to confront my managers during my gap year working in retail when I found out a man was doing the same job and the same age but getting paid more than me. It’s about fighting for what is right.”

Why march in the UK?

Violence against women has been declared a national emergency in the UK, with a reported 37% increase in violent crime against women reported from 2018 - 2023.

The National Police Chiefs' Council reported at least one woman in every 12 is a victim annually, with the true rate likely to be much higher. While much of the conversation has focused on the erosion of women’s rights in the United States, the UK is far from immune.

From 2022 to 2023, Merseyside had the worst record in the country for women and girls killed by men. People often talk of an 'epidemic' of violence against women and girls, and the frightening statistics from our region underline the severity of the problem.

In 2021, three women were killed here in four days. The following year, a series of heinous murders meant Merseyside was blighted by the worst record of women and girls killed by men in the whole country. You can read more about what Domestic abuse organisations had to say about Merseyside here.