White Ribbon Day: Every Voice Against Violence Matters
Women in Rail
Improving gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in the UK rail industry.
“That’s what girls have to think about all the time.” Saoirse Ronan - 2024
That was the now famous line Saoirse Ronan delivered to fellow guests on a recent episode of BBC One’s Graham Norton Show which stopped them in their tracks.
During the appearance on the famous red sofa, Saoirse shone a light on the shared vulnerability women and girls face around personal safety. The Irish actress appeared alongside Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Eddie Redmayne, who joked about being taught how to use his phone in self-defence for his latest role.
Quick to respond, Saoirse interjected with… “That’s what girls have to think about all the time.” Cue silence.
Change Starts With Men
A report issued this year by the National Police Chiefs’ Council revealed 2 million women a year are estimated to be victims of male violence, calling it a ‘national emergency’.
Figures from the British Transport Police Authority’s 2024 annual report showed the number of crimes against women and girls rose from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023.
As we mark White Ribbon Day, a global initiative dedicated to ending violence against women and girls (VAWG), it is an opportunity to reflect on how the rail industry can champion safety, equality and accountability. The campaign is a call to action, reminding us that ending gender-based violence is not just a woman’s issue, it starts with men.*? Not all men are violent towards women, but all men can help stop it.
White Ribbon’s mission is to engage with men and boys as allies who play an active role in listening and learning to the lived experiences of women and girls and challenging harmful attitude and behaviours.? Being an ally might sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The charity has some great examples of what male allyship might look like.
Rail Operators: A Shared Commitment
As rail operators, we play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of their passengers and staff. The responsibility goes beyond providing a means of transport, it’s about creating an environment where everyone, especially women and girls, feel secure. Some examples include:
Creating safe spaces – well-lit stations, safe spaces during large events, CCTV / body-worn cameras and accessible reporting mechanisms.
Training frontline employees – equipping employees with the skills to identify and address threatening situations.
Support for bystanders – clear messaging for bystanders on how to intervene effectively but safely and information on how to report incidents.
The Rail Delivery Group has also been instrumental in bringing together transport operators and holding the sector to account – last month I joined a roundtable, hosted by Jacqueline Starr with other train operators to discuss the topic of violence against women and girls (VAWG) where we pledged our commitments to tackling this issue.
So, on this #WhiteRibbonDay, think about what you can do to help end violence against women and girls? Not only in your day jobs but beyond the rails.
MD
*Read how our very own Women in Rail trustee Darren O'Brien – and Ambassador for White Ribbon – has pledged to support ending violence against women and girls.
#WhiteRibbonDay #ItStartsWithMen #RailSafety #EndViolenceAgainstWomen
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