Glasgow residents are being urged to help end violence towards women as the city prepares to support the annual, world-wide 16 Days of Action campaign.
Glasgow’s Violence Against Women Partnership (GVAWP) is supporting the campaign by co-ordinating local activities to challenge unacceptable behaviour and let women know they need not suffer in isolation– help is available.
A number of events are planned across the city during the 16 Days campaign which runs from 25 November to 10 December.
Ann Fehily, Group Manager for Violence Against Women Services, said: “Sixteen Days of Action is a global campaign set up to show the world that violence against women is everyone’s issue and we all have a role in ending it. Violence against women is not just about domestic abuse – it includes rape, sexual violence, harmful cultural practices such as forced and child marriage, commercial sexual exploitation including prostitution and pornography, stalking and harassment.
“Violence against women harms society and impacts on the lives of women, children and young people. Communities suffer and families are destroyed. We know most men don’t commit such violence but those that do cause great emotional and physical damage which affects families and scars future generations.
“The 16 Days campaign is a great opportunity to raise awareness of this unacceptable behaviour. We hope the public get behind the campaign and support the events taking place across the city.”
The first day of the campaign (25 November) is the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and culminates on International Human Rights Day (10 December).
It also encompasses World Aids Day (1 December) and remembers the date (6 December 1989) when 14 female students were shot and killed by a man who objected to them studying to be engineers because they were women. So appalled by the actions of the gunman that a group of men came together to make their support for women’s equality visible. This led to the birth of the White Ribbon movement. Wearing a White Ribbon is now the symbol of support for 16 Days which Glasgow has adopted. Throughout the campaign, everyone including men and boys are encouraged to wear a White Ribbon to show their commitment to ending violence against women.
An installation which shines a light a on violence against women will be on display from Monday, 2 December until Friday, 6 December in the City Chambers. Researcher Dr Emma Forbes, artist Brian Waugh, art tutor Charles Provan and the Daisy Project have worked together to create a dynamic-stained glass art installation The Glass Walls art installation is a collaborative community art project raising awareness of domestic abuse and the ongoing challenges in seeking justice.
Visit www.glasgow.gov.uk/vaw for further information.
