JINHA

NEWS CENTER – 400 women took the streets and council building of London yesterday in a march against austerity cuts to domestic violence services.

Women's direct action group Sisters Uncut shut down the streets of London yesterday under clouds of purple smoke, protesting austerity cuts to domestic violence services with a march and banner drop.

In the UK, two women per week die at the hands of partners or ex-partners. From 2010 to 2012, local funding to domestic violence services was cut by 31% and over the last four years, 32 shelters serving marginalized groups closed their doors. The UK's largest women's organization, Women's Aid, noted that on an average day in 2014, they turned away 230 women seeking services (including shelter services). Hundreds of women and children have found themselves unable to find space in a shelter.

Women held a minute of silence for the women victims of male violence at the action. They also laid a wreath in the victims' honor.

The main parties in the UK's upcoming May 7 election continue their silence on the issue of funding to women's services and programs.

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