Up to one thousand women gathered outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 25 November, to begin a two-mile march through central London in a protest against rape and all forms of sexual violence against women.

Women in the UK have been taking to the streets to ‘Reclaim the Night’ every year since 1977, as a protest against the curfew put in place to protect women after the notorious serial killer Peter Sutcliffe murdered 13 women in Leeds and Bradford

Police at the time warned women to stay indoors after nightfall, a suggestion that was met with uproar for its implication that women, rather than men, should take responsibility for changing their behaviour to protect themselves from sexual violence.

The outcry prompted the first Reclaim the Night march in Leeds, where placards read “No curfew on women – curfew on men”.

Although the inaugural march took place over four decades ago, the issues at the heart of Reclaim the Night are still relevant today – particularly given the recent allegations of sexual harassment against famous men, and the outpouring of women’s stories shared under hashtags including #MeToo.

The Reclaim the Night website explains: “In the climate of #MeToo, #YoTambien and #BalanceTonPorc Reclaim the Night is as relevant as ever – if not more so. Violence against women continues to occur every minute of every day, but women everywhere are making a stand.”

Hundreds of women march against sexual violence for 40th anniversary of Reclaim the Night