Jessie Joe Jacobs: "We need to make things safer for women"

I’VE had stalkers, been followed home, been in domestic violent relationships and faced harassment on the street and in the workplace.

I do not believe I am one of the few. Statistics suggest this is closer to the norm.

When I was 24 years old, after leaving a domestic abuse situation I started a charity for women. Many had been raped, attacked and abused. The devastating reality is violence and intimidation is an everyday experience for many women. And even if you don’t experience it, you fear it.

We have these moments of national outrage, when we raise our voices, like after Harvey Weinstein, yet the statistics stay the same.

And every statistic is a daughter covering up her bruises with make-up, a friend living in fear for her and her kids, a sister hiding what’s going on at home, it’s a mother’s heart, broken forever by the loss of a child. At times change seems so far away.

This week I raised my voice about the Tees Valley Mayor who, at the very moment of the Sarah Everard vigil, met with a local business owner who had joked about ‘hitting your ex’ to promote his business.

The on-line sexist backlash I faced for simply pointing this out was unprecedented. I face social media abuse often but this was vile, the worst I have ever known.

Somehow by daring to speak out, a woman daring to raise her voice and question a man, I was to blame. I was fair game.

I stopped reading the comments as most women do - but I will not temper my resolve to bring about change.

We need to change attitudes in society and address this issue everywhere; in schools, in our communities and in the workplace. We need to address issues of sexism, misogyny and equality. Sexual violence exists in a pyramid. It starts with a joke, but it can end somewhere so much worse.

We need to think about how we can create a safe environment for women in our towns and cities and estates. We need to shape a new politics that listens to women and will act on what we are saying.

We need to make things better and safer for women and for everyone. It is important to recognise domestic violence isn’t just experienced by women and is much, much less likely to be reported by a man so we need services, resources and cultural change.

And that is the reason I am in politics, to bring about the changes we so desperately need. And as the UK’s first female metro mayor, I promise I will leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding the solutions to securing a safer future for women and girls and a more equal and safe world for all.