Let’s Lift the Curfew is back and we’re urging all our partners and supporters to support our call for action on women’s safety and freedom to be active after dark.
This week, thousands of women and their allies will take to streets, parks and trails across the country to highlight how safety fears force many women to change their behaviour when the nights draw in.
Our research shows that almost three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter. Not because they want to, but because public spaces aren’t safe enough.
Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of women (23%) avoid certain areas after dark, while one in five (20%) glance behind them to ensure they’re not being followed.
These behaviours are a direct response to the barriers women face: harassment, abuse and poorly designed public spaces. And they’re a wake-up call for everyone with the power to make a difference. The curfew must end.
Now in its third year, Let’s Lift the Curfew is not slowing down. As our director of marketing Kate Dale says, we’re demanding bold, visible change.
"Every year when the clocks go back, women everywhere see their world get smaller – not because they want to, but because they don’t feel safe going out after dark," she said.
"Women’s safety continues to dominate headlines – an ever-present, stark reminder that this issue hasn’t gone away. And these aren’t isolated stories; they reflect a daily reality that too many of us have accepted for too long. Let’s Lift the Curfew is our response to that: a collective stand that says ‘enough’.
"Women shouldn’t have to change their behaviour to stay safe; society should change the behaviours that make them feel unsafe. We’ll keep shouting about it until we see change and we want everyone to raise their voices with us. Because the more of us that speak out, the harder it is to ignore.
"Our movement is powered by community, empathy and allyship. When we come together, we show that belonging starts when everyone feels free to move."
