The increasing violence against women has become a shadow pandemic, which is affecting women at an accelerated pace, globally. In a tenement block in Austerville Drive; women, as tenants, are bearing the brunt as mothers, wives, partners, sisters, daughters, widows, divorcees, and the many other roles they find themselves in.
Further to this, they have observed suspicious activity, such as heavy traffic in and out of the premises throughout the night.
They have also raised concerns about an individual who allegedly ‘recruits youngsters as drug runners’.
“We have issues of gangsterism and drugs in the flats and our seniors are being terrorised and traumatised by it. We have been urging the housing department and police to prioritise our safety concerns,”
“We feel that every time we engage the department they say they will look into it, and it feels like they are stalling, while the police have categorically stated that they cannot investigate hearsay”
“We fear that once they gain control, this bad element will move in with the risk of sexual exploitation and violence. Children, as well as adults, are used as drug runners.
Some vulnerable adults may even be forced to leave their homes, making themselves homeless whilst leaving dealers free to buy and sell drugs”, the ladies morosely stated.
It seems that despite the unprecedented upsurge of movements for women’s rights, equality, safety and justice, the crime against women and girls is still continuing. Not enough is done to prevent violence, and when it does occur, it often goes unpunished.
By: Lorraine Richards