16 Days of Activism: UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls
Today is The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
It is also White Ribbon Day, a day when men stand up against violence against women and girls.
And it is the start of #16DaysOfActivism an annual campaign calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
At 92 Minutes, we are, and have been, privileged to work with a number of ‘by and for’ organisations supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse, violence, sexual assault and rape. Our work managing their social media channels, creating their content and updating their websites, feels tiny compared to what they do. We know it matters, we know we get them heard. But these organisations, every one of them, are life saving. Literally.
The UN tells us that
1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner.
One hundred and thirty-seven women are killed by a member of their family every day
Fewer than 40 per cent of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort.
The organisations we work with do incredible, life changing, and life saving work. They are ‘by and for’ services, organisations run by people from the groups affected by the issue in question, that provide specialist support for the communities they serve. Their knowledge and lived experience is an incredble comobination and the quport they are able to rvode survisvors as a ersuly is immense.
Sadly, funding for these services is constantly under threat and demand for support is going up. Violence against women and girls is not global, endemic - and not stopping. It’s fantastic to see initiatives like this ‘allyship training’ for students in schools from the Mayor of London but the reality is that sexism and the structures which enable violence against women and girls are built into our society.
We believe there needs to be a seismic shift in societies’ attitudes to violence against women and girls. We need to agree that it is always unacceptable, that it is never her fault.
For 16 days, can you commit to challenging this stuff when you see it, when it’s safe for you to do so?
Power to our sisters in these services.
Power to the survivors.
Power to you.