Women and non-binary students will march through the streets of Cambridge this Sunday as part of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign.

The event encourages unity “in a stand of solidarity to end sexual violence, harassment and oppression”, stating one of its aims as being to “Reclaim the night. Reclaim the streets. Reclaim it all.”

Chants from the pre-released song sheet include: “Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes, and no means no.” and “2, 3, 4 We won’t take it anymore! 5, 6, 7, 8 No more violence! No more hate!”

This comes after a Cambridge News report last month noted that there were 1,270 sexual offences reported in Cambridgeshire in the year September 2014 to September 2015, a 15 per cent increase on the previous year.

Speaking to Cambridge News, CUSU Women’s Officer Charlotte Chorley said: “Reclaim the Night 2016 is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago – and we should be so angry about this. As always, we hope to show a stand of solidarity for all of those affected by sexual harassment and sexual violence.”

She added: “We hope to send a message to everyone that we are here, and we are strong, and we deserve the space to live our lives freely, safely and happily. Too many women and non-binary people are denied that right every single day.

“We live in a culture where sexism is dismissed as casual banter, and women’s bodies are treated as public property. Reclaim the Night is a public demonstration against this, and a public show of support for all those affected.”

Beginning at Christ’s Pieces, there will be speeches from 5:45 to 6 p.m. This will be followed by a 45-minute march, going down from Christ’s Pieces to St Andrew’s Street, up Sidney Street towards the Round Church, then down St John’s Street, through Trinity Lane and King’s Parade, and finishing at the top of Silver Street.

Although the march itself is only open to self-identifying women and non-binary people, all are welcome to attend the vigil afterwards, which will take place at the University Centre in Granta Place and consist of speeches and spoken-word performances.

The march, which takes place once a year, is Cambridge’s equivalent of the national women’s Reclaim the Night march, which has been organised by the London Feminist Network since 2004.