A SERIES of events will be held by a York charity to celebrate International Women’s Day this month.

The Independent Domestic Abuse Service, IDAS, is calling for people to join the 'Press For Progress' movement towards ensuring everyone can live safe lives free from harm and abuse.

Carmel Offord, community engagement officer at IDAS said the events would include "some of Yorkshire’s most powerful female voices", including performances of spoken word and acoustic music at The Basement in City Screen on International Women's Day, Thursday, March 8.

On Monday, there will be a talk to the York Women’s Network at the University of York's Science Park, and on Wednesday Mary Weastell the chief executive of City of York Council will visit IDAS to find out more about the charity.

Lord Mayor Cllr Barbara Boyce will visit the team in Blossom Street on Thursday before visiting the IDAS refuge, and a bake sale will be held between 10am and 2pm on Thursday, March 8, hosted by the Women’s Network at the Environment Agency in Foss Island to raise money for IDAS. Also, on Thursday evening, Women Make A Noise will take place at City Screen's Basement - a fundraising event with IDAS patron Joolz Denby and acoustic musicians.

Carmel said: "This year marks 100 years since the first women got the vote. Since then there has been significant progress towards women being recognised as equals in society and in their intimate relationships. In 1991, the marital rape exemption was abolished, meaning it became illegal for a husband to force or coerce his wife into sex. This was a mere 27 years ago. The Serious Crime Act in 2015, created a new offence of coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate or familial relationships to protect people from the dangers of domestic abuse.

"However, In 2018, we will support over 5,000 people who have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, most of whom will be women. We will also support over 100 women in our refuges. There is still much work to be done to make women and children safer. This fundraiser will raise money to refurbish areas of our refuge in York. Our refuges provide safe accommodation to women fleeing for their lives as a result of domestic abuse."

Tickets for Women Make A Noise for International Women’s Day are available from City Screen or online at thebasementyork.co.uk/women-make-a-noise