Watch the deputation being delivered live by Leeds ReSisters and the following vote here: leeds.public-i.tv/core/portal/home
Tomorrow, Wednesday 18th January, Leeds ReSisters will be presenting a deputation to Leeds City Council during the monthly, all councillors meeting.
The deputation calls for all women’s refuges to be single sex only.
“Lord Mayor and Members of Council, we are here today to ask you to consider the case for creating single sex refuges in the city of Leeds. We would like to stress 2 things as they underpin our message to you:
“Firstly, we believe that every victim of abuse should be given refuge and protection, irrespective of how they choose to present or identify.
“Secondly, we believe that in all societies, when biological sex matters, it really does matter. The reality of our bodies is a fundamental truth, and this is why women’s spaces and services exist. Victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse are overwhelmingly female and the perpetrators almost exclusively male. So where is this fundamental truth more important than in a women’s refuge?”
This deputation has been brought as a follow up to the protest that Leeds Resisters held in November outside the Council meeting.
www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/sex-offender-stayed-in-leeds-womens-refuge-for-71-days-as-campaigners-protest-leeds-council-over-scandal-3920683
www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/group-protest-leeds-city-centre-25531119.amp
We hope that the deputation is carried forward and assigned to one of the council committees who shall consider the matter in consultation with the relevant Executive Member.
The deputation will be read just after 1pm and the councillor’s vote will follow. You can watch the deputation and the vote live here: leeds.public-i.tv/core/portal/home