you can send me a message by the usual ways. you can send me a message by the usual ways. thousands of women stage rallies, across australia — to protest against gender discrimination and violence. martial law is imposed in more areas of yangon in myanmar, after one of the deadliest days of protest since last month's coup. further lockdown easing — as more children return to school in scotland and hairdressers reopen in wales. the grammy goes to — beyonce! at the grammys, beyonce breaks the record for the most awards ever won by a woman. as an artist, i believe it is myjob, and all of ourjobs, to reflect the times and it has been such a difficult time. and coming up in around halfan hour, we'll talk live to katie price as her petition to make it more difficult for online trolls to be anonymous passes 100,000 signatures. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. borisjohnson will chair a meeting today of the uk government's crime and justice taskforce — after saying he is "deeply concerned" about the way police handled a vigil in london over the weekend in memory of murdered woman sarah everard. mrjohnson said that every part of the criminaljustice system needed to work to protect and defend women and girls. hundreds of people gathered at the bandstand in clapham common, south london, on saturday evening for a vigilfor ms everard, who went missing while walking home from a friend's house on 3rd march. 0fficers handcuffed women and removed them from the gathering. four people were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches, the met said. met police commissioner dame cressida dick, who's attending today's summit with the prime minister, has dismissed calls to resign and defended the force's actions. i don't think anybody should be sitting back in an armchair and saying oh, that was done badly or i would have done it differently without actually understanding what was going through their minds. my officers up and down london and beyond, if they weren't working, will have been thinking of sarah at 9:30 last night, they will have been lighting candles or pausing, and it's something we care about very, very deeply. the policing minister, kit malthouse, insists the met had a very difficultjob in handling the vigil. we have to see the context of the difficult situations on the police find themselves in. we need to know more about saturday night. and obviously, this independent review will look into that. but you know cressida dick is an officer of superlative achievement in her life and she has been close to some incredibly successful investigations. and i know that she is very dedicated and committed to this issue of dealing with violence against women and girls in as assertive of a way as we possibly can. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas is at westminster. that was the policing minister. politicians from all parties have been responding, haven't they? yes. been responding, haven't they? yes, the have. been responding, haven't they? yes, they have- and _ been responding, haven't they? yes, they have. and what _ been responding, haven't they? yes they have. and what we have heard is that attempt to balance the concerns about people and what they saw. but we have seen at the same time as you heard from the policing minister and the prime minister support for cressida dick. and the police —— there have been calls for her to resign, calls for her to apologise for what happened. she has had the backing of the policing minister. the opposition as well and of course the prime minister. they all expressed their concern about the issues of safety of women, but not backing up those calls. what we have seen at these two inquiries that are going to happen of the event on saturday. 0ne going to happen of the event on saturday. one will be by the met and one will be independent. it's expected that will take a few weeks. for the time being, depending on the outcome of those reviews, the met police commissioner does have some serious backing. police commissioner does have some serious backing-— serious backing. thank you very much. joining me now is helen lewis, author and staff writer at the atlantic, who attended the vigil on clapham common on saturday evening. helen, how would you describe it to begin with and when and why did things change?— begin with and when and why did thins chance? ~ . ., things change? when i arrived about 5m, it things change? when i arrived about 5pm. it was — things change? when i arrived about 5pm. it was very _ things change? when i arrived about 5pm, it was very quiet. _ things change? when i arrived about 5pm, it was very quiet. it _ things change? when i arrived about 5pm, it was very quiet. it was - things change? when i arrived about 5pm, it was very quiet. it was a - 5pm, it was very quiet. it was a silent vigil. women were respectfully laying flowers and people holding candles. it was very moving, but also very low—key. and then at six o'clock, there was a moment of silence led by someone. after that there were speeches, some which were angry as you would expect of the circumstances. as i left, the police were moving and. saying it was time to go home, break it up. i thought to myself, this is a very bad idea. it is interesting that cressida dick talking about armchair critics. i guess i'm one, but i was there at the time. for the police to move in and be heavy—handed seen very counterproductive. the evidence for that is that there were lots of other vigils around the country that did not end up with these kind of scenes. and there was a protest yesterday in westminster with regular post textures —— with regular post textures —— with regular protesters and we did not end up with these kinds of scenes. were you there to pay your respects as well as doing yourjob? because people who went to work criticised because it was called off, it was an illegal gathering in the end. i was there to write _ illegal gathering in the end. i was there to write about _ illegal gathering in the end. i was there to write about it. _ illegal gathering in the end. i was there to write about it. i - illegal gathering in the end. i —" there to write about it. i think it is a really interesting movement for britain and the feminist movement. following on from the metoo movement. we have these outpouring of anger. that we keep raising these problems and they go nowhere. i talked to him women who say i do not feel safe walking home on my own. it is notjust about feel safe walking home on my own. it is not just about the feel safe walking home on my own. it is notjust about the big incidents, it's about the little tiny ones that over a lifetime to accumulate and make you feel not safe in public spaces. in make you feel not safe in public saces. , ., ., ., spaces. in terms of dealing with all of that, spaces. in terms of dealing with all of that. there _ spaces. in terms of dealing with all of that, there are _ spaces. in terms of dealing with all of that, there are so _ spaces. in terms of dealing with all of that, there are so many - spaces. in terms of dealing with all of that, there are so many facets i spaces. in terms of dealing with all| of that, there are so many facets to this. is it looking at sentencing? laws, how we educate boys? where do you come from on that? the laws, how we educate boys? where do you come from on that?— you come from on that? the one thing i would sa you come from on that? the one thing i would say is — you come from on that? the one thing i would say is if _ you come from on that? the one thing i would say is if you _ you come from on that? the one thing i would say is if you are _ you come from on that? the one thing i would say is if you are a _ you come from on that? the one thing i would say is if you are a man - i would say is if you are a man watching this and you feel annoyed that you are being lumped in with all these people, is look to your own friends and see whether or not what they are doing. it is not something i really think that women can solve. i am opposed to longer sentences, i don't think they have a deterrent effect. prisons are costly and in a bad state at the moment. i do not think that is a place for rehabilitation. i am very wary about that. we have got this massive problem in the courts exacerbated by the coronavirus. there is a backlog of cases. that is obviously unfair to people who are accusing someone of rape or domestic violence. they are asked to give very emotional violence several years after the fact. and it's unfair on defendants to have that charge hanging over their head. a huge investment in the court system to ease the backlog would be beneficial. it would benefit everyone involved in the system. pa. benefit everyone involved in the s stem. �* ., , ., , system. a few more questions. the labour party _ system. a few more questions. the labour party in _ system. a few more questions. the labour party in the _ system. a few more questions. the labour party in the uk _ system. a few more questions. the labour party in the uk say - system. a few more questions. the labour party in the uk say they're l labour party in the uk say they're going to vote against something called the police crime sentencing in courts bill which could give, would give police more powers to impose conditions on static protests. i know saturday was not a protests. i know saturday was not a protest it was a vigil, but what do you think of their decision to vote against the entire bill? i you think of their decision to vote against the entire bill?— against the entire bill? i think it is artl against the entire bill? i think it is partly a _ against the entire bill? i think it is partly a tactical— against the entire bill? i think it is partly a tactical one _ against the entire bill? i think it is partly a tactical one and - against the entire bill? i think it is partly a tactical one and they| is partly a tactical one and they feel that they have the ability to do because of the events on saturday. fundamentally law and order politics is very popular in this country. never can underestimate people's instinct to lock people up. civil liberties position is a smaller one. what is odd about that bill to me is that there is a ten year sentence for damaging a statue. i think it is very unlikely that juries damaging a statue. i think it is very unlikely thatjuries will convict if that is the kind of penalty. this is why long sentences can be counterproductive. i think there is a real case for saying that this bill is not in a very good state. we do not feel we can sign it. we should look again at this. that is a difficult and a big political call to make. the anti—protest positions and pro—police positions are the dominant ones in this country. aha, dominant ones in this country. a final thought, dominant ones in this country. a finalthought, in dominant ones in this country. a final thought, in the dominant ones in this country. a finalthought, in the house dominant ones in this country. a final thought, in the house of lords the domestic abuse bill is being scrutinised and they can make misogyny a hate crime. would that make any difference to the level of mail violence? make any difference to the level of mailviolence? i’m make any difference to the level of mail violence ?_ mailviolence? i'm unconvinced by the case on _ mailviolence? i'm unconvinced by the case on that. _ mailviolence? i'm unconvinced by the case on that. i _ mailviolence? i'm unconvinced by the case on that. i think— mailviolence? i'm unconvinced by the case on that. i think there - mailviolence? i'm unconvinced by the case on that. i think there is l the case on that. i think there is an odd discrepancy that homophobia or racial abuse are classified as hate crimes but misogyny is not. i think it's hard to spend any time on the internet without seeing that woman hatred is very pervasive in society. 0ne woman hatred is very pervasive in society. one of the biggest things we can do is properly fund domestic violence programmes. and more stuff for women who want to stay in their home. at the moment the solution is here's some money to leave by a large. that can only apply to people in severe danger. lots of women do not want to do that. these are problems that are very difficult to solve because they are huge and they cost money. solve because they are huge and they cost money-— cost money. thank you very much helen. cost money. thank you very much helen- helen _ cost money. thank you very much helen. helen lewis. _ cost money. thank you very much helen. helen lewis. she - cost money. thank you very much helen. helen lewis. she is - cost money. thank you very much helen. helen lewis. she is a - cost money. thank you very much l helen. helen lewis. she is a writer for the atlantic magazine. thank you for the atlantic magazine. thank you for your messages on what happened on saturday. john says i am and asked tory voter. i am disgusted at the met police action. damon says have we forgotten about covid? what are the police supposed to do? it sounds like they started politely explaining and encouraging and then enforcing. to australia now and tens of thousands of people have turned out to marches across the country, rallying against sexual abuse and harassment of women in the country. one of the biggest events was outside the parliament building in canberra. 0ur corresponent shaima khalil was there — a warning — her report contains flash photography. enough is enough, enough is enough. a day of reckoning across australia. calling out sexual violence and the political system they say has let them down. i've been honked at, groped in bars and i think it's time that everyone takes responsibility for this issue. i've got four young children and i believe i want a better future for my girls and i want my boys to understand the _ seriousness of these issues. it's like something that as a woman, it's almost wrong to feel angry. - but i feel angry. they marched in more than a0 towns and cities. the biggest was here in canberra — home to parliament house, the country's seat of power. this is where brittany higgins, a former political adviser to the liberal party, alleges a male colleague had raped her. she says her experience reflects a dismal reality for many women. my story was on the front page for the sole reason that it was a painful reminder to women that if it can happen in parliament house, it can truly happen anywhere. applause. shutters click. in a separate claim, australia's attorney general christian porter has vigorously denied allegations that he raped a 16—year—old girl in 1988, long before he entered politics. the prime minister scott morrison has been under mounting pressure to launch an independent inquiry. but has so far refused. he prays the peaceful rallies but has been cold tone deaf. this he prays the peaceful rallies but has been cold tone deaf.- he prays the peaceful rallies but has been cold tone deaf. this is a vibrant liberal— has been cold tone deaf. this is a vibrant liberal democracy. - has been cold tone deaf. this is a vibrant liberal democracy. not. has been cold tone deaf. this is a vibrant liberal democracy. not far from here such marches even now are being met with bullets. but not here in this country. not here in this country. this is a triumph of democracy when we see these things take place. the controversy of these rape allegations and the way they've been handled have rocked the government and touched a nerve with australian women. many are furious at what they say is a culture of no accountability among politicians and a leadership that is out of touch with their struggles. for saying you believe a survivor sounds incredibly easy and that's because it is. for saxon millins, this is personal. she was sexually assaulted outside a nightclub in sydney in 2013 and now wants to take advantage of this collective outrage to bring about change. the fact that it is our government, our prime minister, our highest elected leaders that are just totally unwilling to listen to survivors or understand the reality of sexual violence, i think that has brought everyone together to understand that something needs to be done. chanting. this moment has been described as a turning point for australian politics. but it also highlights yet again how women have been treated in the country's corridors of power and how most of the time, power has not tilted in their favour. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, canberra. the headlines on bbc news... the prime minister says he's "deeply concerned" about footage of police officers breaking up the vigil on clapham common, held in memory of sarah everard. martial law is imposed in more areas of yangon in myanmar, after one of the deadliest days of protest since last month's coup. further lockdown easing — as more children return to school in scotland and hairdressers reopen in wales. in myanmar, the lawyer for deposed leader aung san suu kyi says her court hearing — which had been scheduled for today — has been ajourned until 24th march. she was arrested in last month's military coup, and is facing charges of accepting money and gifts — accusations that have been widely criticised as fabricated. it follows one of the deadliest days since mass protests began against the coup — at least a0 people were killed by security forces yesterday and martial law has been extended across more parts of myanmar�*s main city, yangon. earlier, our south east asia correspondentjonathan head described how bad the military crackdown has been in the last few days. it's not just that this appears to be a strategy with no soft side to it from the military authorities to crush this movement through sheer terror, shock, random violence. but the attitude of soldiers and police, i think that is what has really stunned people. we've seen police and soldiers almost laughing. i mean, very casual. picking people off with their high velocity rifles from the bridge. they have basically gone to war with their own people, declared war on them. and they are picking them off as if they are hunting. even when others go and try to help people who have been shot, they are being picked off as well. we have seen videos posted by soldiers and police expressing contempt for the civilian population and jeering at them and threatening them with their weapons. and we have seen behaviour that frankly i can't even describe on the air like this. attitudes towards the people who are wounded, dead bodies in the street, the way the military have treated those. there is clearly embedded in the military and police total and complete contempt and disregard for the lives of the people who in theory they are supposed to serve. and in that context, this is a really dreadful conflict. they are armed, the ordinary people are not. they are facing a massive uprising and where it is very strong as it was particularly in these two industrial neighbourhoods of yangon yesterday, the police and military went in much harder and used a lot more live fire. as a result, we have this terrible death toll. just the numbers and the death toll don't give you and a sense of the awful injuries people are suffering. the kind of injuries you only expect to see on a battlefield is what these high velocity bullets do. it is just awful. the netherlands has become the latest country to suspend use of the 0xford—astrazeneca vaccine over concerns about possible side effects. the dutch government said the move was a precaution, and would last until the 29th of march. the announcement comes after a similar decision from ireland, following reports of blood clotting from recipients of the vaccine in norway. but the world health organisation say there is no indication of a link between the vaccine and blood clots. joininig me n