A new film released today in support of Women’s Aid features a host of high-profile male actors urging #AllMen to speak out in opposition of male violence against women.

The tragic murders of Sarah Everard, sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, and most recently, Sabina Nessa, compelled actor Ian Bartholomew, who played perpetrator Geoff Metcalfe in Coronation Street, to create the film with his wife, Director Loveday Ingram and actor Christopher Sherwood. The film, All Men, aims to encourage men that they must help change the society women face today.

The film features 14 well known British actors, including Jim Carter, Don Gilet, Jason Watkins and Tim McInnerney. Women’s Aid Ambassadors Toby Alexander-Smith, and Bill Ward also feature, both of whom have played perpetrators of abuse in Eastenders and Coronation Street – and who worked closely with Women’s Aid on their roles, as did valued supporter Ian Bartholomew, who recently released the charity single ‘This Time it’s Forever’ to raise money for Women’s Aid. This powerful film shares how all men can change attitudes and makes it known that all men have a responsibility to stand in opposition of violence against women and girls. Whilst it’s acknowledged that not all men abuse women, the issues raised by the campaign couldn’t be more pertinent today. The #AllMen film is a direct response to the #NotAllMen hashtag which circles on social media.

WATCH THE FILM HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT2LbqtyYKQ

Ian Bartholomew, on his motivation behind All Men:

“This is a response to #NotAllMen. Of course, not all men abuse, rape or murder women, but ALL men need to take responsibility for changing the behaviours and beliefs of those that do. Women are being murdered on our streets and as men, we have to change our behaviour and as a society we urgently need to address the problem and put an end to violence against women and girls.

What sort of world do we live in where citizens of this country can’t walk the streets without the fear of being raped or killed? That’s not the world I want to live in.

It’s time the government and the police stepped up to make violence against women and girls a thing of the past. It’s time men changed their attitudes and behaviours to consign it to the history books.

In this patriarchal society, women are plainly considered as second-class citizens, and treated as such. It has to change! Now! And ALL MEN have to engage to make that happen. Or it never will.’