We should hold Mayoral candidates to account writes Melissa Green, CEO, National Federation of Women’s Institutes

Dear Editor,

As the May local elections approach, The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) reminds the public that in this region, the Mayor is the elected official that oversees police forces in England and Wales – and this includes delivering on county, district and region-specific Violence against Women and Girls strategies.

Voters, including the 190,000 strong WI members, can make a difference by engaging with Mayoral candidates ahead of elections to scrutinise how they will be tackling the endemic violence that women face every day. Now is the time to seize the opportunity to participate in the democratic process and hold those that can foster safer communities for us all, to account.

Candidate details are published from April 8, at which point members of the public can contact them to ask how they plan to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. With one in four women in England and Wales experiencing abuse in their lifetime, and our police on the frontline of responding, it could not be more urgent.

Melissa Green, CEO, National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI)

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