Jess Phillips to Honour 108 Women Killed by Men in UK Parliament Reading
Labour MP Jess Phillips will read out the names of all 108 women killed by men in the UK over the last year during a parliamentary debate on International Women's Day. This solemn tradition, now in its 11th year, requires special dispensation due to the time needed to list each name, taking over five minutes. The event highlights the ongoing crisis of violence against women and girls in the country.
Alarming Rise in Matricide Cases Revealed
Among the names recorded by the Femicide Census project, 19 mothers are believed to have been killed by their sons in the past 12 months. This represents nearly one in five cases of women killed by men, indicating the highest rate of matricide in 16 years of data collection. Clarrie O'Callaghan, co-founder of the Femicide Census, expressed horror at the growing problem, citing contributing factors such as collapsed mental health care, substance abuse issues, and housing insecurity.
O'Callaghan noted: "Often the men who have killed their mothers have histories of abuse of their earlier partners, so they had moved in with their mother after those relationships broke down. However, despite our reporting on matricides for 10 years, no state agency has yet to acknowledge matricide, let alone take responsibility for tackling it."
Historical Data and Government Response
Last year, the Guardian revealed that nearly one in 10 women killed by men in the UK over the previous 15 years were mothers killed by their sons. The Femicide Census's 2,000 Women report showed more than 170 such cases between 2009 and 2021, with mental ill health a factor in 58% of matricide incidents. In response, the government published its violence against women and girls strategy in December, backed by £1bn in funding. Plans include tackling harmful behaviours among boys, teaching about healthy relationships, and supporting victims through the criminal justice system.
However, women's organisations have warned that the strategy falls "seriously short" of the funding needed to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. O'Callaghan called it a "step in the right direction" but criticised the lack of recognition for specialist interventions and new financial support, stating: "We need new money, not previously committed money redistributed."
Challenges in Support Services
Specialist women-led charities are at risk of closure, according to O'Callaghan, who highlighted ongoing issues in the sector. She emphasised that older women are rarely recognised as being at risk from their sons, with few dedicated services available across the UK. The government's funding includes £50m for therapeutic support for child victims of sexual abuse, £19m for safe housing for domestic abuse survivors, and £550m for victim support in the criminal justice system, but concerns remain about implementation and adequacy.
