Last Thursday [November 25, 2021] marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and the beginning of the 16 Days of Action, a campaign to raise awareness of the key issues around violence against women and girls and help create a world where they are safe from harm.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence run from November 25 until December 10, which is world Human Rights Day. The movement’s roots date back to 1991, when it was launched by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute.
Each year, the 16 Days continue to be coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations worldwide to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In Northern Ireland, the 16 Days of Action campaign is being spearheaded by Women’s Aid, a movement comprised of eight local Women’s Aid groups and the Women’s Aid Federation.
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, Women’s Aid launched a Comic Relief backed campaign known as Hear Her Voice, which seeks to capture the very real and lived experiences of domestic abuse survivors and celebrate their resilience and strength.
Hear Her Voice is an initiative which aims to challenge the silence which surrounds domestic abuse dialogue, as well as create meaningful social and legislative change for the future.
Women's Aid's launch of Her Her Voice came at a special ceremony held at Belfast's Crowne Plaza on November 25, an event which also featured special addresses from Paul Givan and Michelle O’Neill, the first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland.
On a more local level, Foyle Women’s Aid, one of the eight Northern Irish Women’s Aid groups which operates in Londonderry, Strabane, Limavady and Dungiven, is running two of its own events in partnership with the Western Trust as part of the campaign.
Marie Brown, director at Foyle Women's Aid, explained that the events will be targeted toward raising awareness of domestic abuse, providing preventative education, as well as giving advice and support for victims.
Brown said: “On December 6, we will be running a Domestic Violence Awareness training event, in order to ensure people know the types and signs of domestic abuse and the support services that are available to them within the Trust area.
“This will be followed up on December 8 by a presentation on the first Family Justice Centre and Training Academy site in the whole of Ireland."
The Family Justice Centre and Training Academy is aimed at offering a one-stop venue for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence and elder abuse to access help and specialist support.
The presentation of the new centre on December 8 will include talks from special guests from the Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland [PPANI] and the Police Service of Northern Ireland [PSNI].
Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash
