Women’s Aid ‘One in Five Women’ Campaign

As Specialist Support Agency on Violence against Women to the Local and Community Development Programmes throughout Ireland, Women’s Aid is excited to launch the International 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence against Women for 2013.

We hope that this newsletter, our online campaign resources and our 16 Days blog can inspire and encourage those of you thinking about participating in the campaign.

Women’s Aid will continue our annual ‘One in Five Women’ theme in this year’s 16 Days Campaign. We hope that by raising awareness of the fact that one in five women in Ireland who has ever been in relationship has been abused by a current or former partner, and by promoting services available, we can reach out to women living with domestic violence.

We hope your group will join us this year in the 16 Days Campaign by taking part in an action which shows solidarity with women experiencing domestic violence and with those working to address the issue. This includes the annual nationwide One in Five Women National Balloon Action. If you would like to participate in the balloon action this year, please contact us directly to request a Balloon Action pack. Read more on this inside. We also hope you can participate in this year’s 16 Days online by sharing our interactive One in Five video and Infographic on domestic violence. Read more on these online tools inside.

We know that many groups within the LCDP are continually working to raise local awareness and support individual women and their children to access relevant support services

in the community. See how you can highlight and promote your work on the 16 Days blog inside.

The International 16 Days of Action in BriefThe International 16 Days of Action runs from 25th November, UN International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th December, International Human Rights Day. The campaign spans these 16 Days in order to highlight the link between violence against women and human rights and to emphasise that such violence is a human rights violation.

The 16 Days of Action began in 1991. Since then, over 5,167 organisations in approximately 187 countries have taken part. By participating in 16 Days of Action in our communities, through public action and engaging with the media and local elected representatives, we hope to push for positive change to make women and children safer.The aims of the international 16 Days of Action may be helpful to kick off your own campaign planning:

• Increase women’s safety and protection, including by lobbying governments

• Strengthen and highlight local work to tackle violence against women

• Recognise violence against women as a human rights issue

• Show solidarity among and with women around the world

16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women25th November – 10th December 2013

WOMEN’S AIDMaking Women and Children Safe

National Freephone Helpline

1800 341 900 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week

In 2012, over 130 local groups across Ireland took part in the 16 Days of Action campaign. Over half of these groups participated in the One in Five Women National Balloon Action, coordinated by Women’s Aid. The National Balloon Action provides an ideal opportunity to highlight the important work of your centre to address domestic violence in the community, as well as showing solidarity with women living with domestic violence and solidarity between all of ourselves working to address and end violence against women.

Five balloons, four purple and a single white, visually represent the one in five women in Ireland who experience domestic abuse during their lifetime. Please note that this year, to receive a National Balloon Action Pack, you need to request it from Women’s Aid.

The balloons can be used at any stage during the 16 Days and in a variety of ways including:

• Invite other local groups or service providers who may be able to support women, or who your organisation wants to strengthen links with, to the balloon action.

• Invite community members who can learn more about your services and projects.

• If you are organising an event, whether it’s a walk, an installation, an information stand, an exhibit, a display, a conference, a talk, a coffee morning or other awareness raising projects, use the balloon action to launch the campaign and encourage people to attend.

• Get a local youth group or transition year class involved in staging the balloon release.

• Display the balloons at all events on your premises during the 16 Days of Action.

• Make a video highlighting the campaign and your organisation’s work and services.

• Stage a photograph for the local media.

Women’s Aid will launch the One in Five Women 16 Days campaign with a balloon release at 11am on Monday 25th November 2013. Your centre can join us at this time or at any time during the 16 Days of Action, November 25th-December 10th.

About Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is the national organisation working to make women and children safe in Ireland for nearly 40 years. Women’s Aid is Specialist Support Agency on the issue of violence against women to the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). In this role, our Training and Development Department support groups within the LCDP to address and respond to the issue of violence against women in the community.

Domestic Violence and Employment TrainingWomen’s Aid is currently offering training for staff of local employment services and initiatives funded by the LCDP. This one-day training is provided free of charge and will equip participants with an understanding of the challenges faced by women experiencing domestic violence and how this impacts their ability to obtain and retain employment. The training will also provide participants with the knowledge and practical skills to effectively respond to and refer women experiencing domestic violence within their roles. Contact Michele Lam on 01 6788858 or michele.lam@womensaid.ie for more information.

16 Days Domestic Violence Information SessionsThis year, we are delighted to be able to link directly with your organisation during the 16 Days through our Domestic Violence Information Officer. We can provide an information session either to established women’s groups at your organisation or to women in the community as part of your programme of 16 Days events, during the 16 Days or in the lead-up to the campaign. The information session will look at the nature of domestic violence, the services available, and how women can help a loved one experiencing abuse. Contact Laura Shehan on 01 678 8858 or laura.shehan@womensaid.ie for more information.

Join the One in Five Women National Balloon Action

To receive a National Balloon Action Pack, please contact Women’s Aid by email at 16days@womensaid.ie or by phone at 01 6788858. We will then post a pack containing 25 balloons and further information to your organisation. The deadline to request a pack is 5pm on Monday 21st October 2013.

Online ResourcesThe 16 Days of Action campaign page on the Women’s Aid website links you with all the necessary resources on how to get involved in the 16 Days Campaign. Visit the campaign page at www.womensaid.ie/campaigns/16days, where you will be able to:

Get Informed with statistics and research on domestic violence in Ireland and internationally, including an Infographic, which you can share throughout the campaign.

Share the ‘One in Five’ video Spread the word about the 16 Days of Action and show solidarity to women experiencing domestic violence by watching and sharing Women’s Aid online campaign video ‘One in Five’ at www.womensaid.ie/oneinfivewomen. The video tells the story of Lisa, who is suffering abuse from her partner. The scene shows an incident of emotional and verbal abuse and its impact on her. The video takes less than 2 minutes to watch and share amongst your friends and online social networks.

Get Active with campaign resources including a sample Photocall Notice and Media Release to send to local or national media.

Get Connected through the 16 Days Blog: www.womensaid.ie/16daysblog/The 16 Days Blog provides a forum to interact with other groups and highlight the work of your organisation locally and nationally. The blog will have up-to-date information on events taking place nationwide and messages of support from well-known Irish public figures. The blog will also connect your organisation to the wider international 16 Days Campaign.

On the blog, the menu on the left hand side allows you to look at all entries and events by organisations similar to yours, as well as allowing you to look at events in your own county or on a certain date. You can also use this menu to search blog posts by other categories such as guest posts and national events or news.

How to highlight your organisation’s work on the 16 Days Blog:• Send photos from your actions in 2012, including of the National Balloon Action, to 16days@womensaid.ie. We may also use these images on our social media.

• Send us information on your planned 16 Days events for 2013

• Check the blog regularly to see what ideas and opportunities for 2013 might suit your organisation

www.womensaid.ie/16daysblog

The 16 Days Online

www.womensaid.ie/oneinfivewomen

Scene from the One in Five video

Women’s Aid recently spoke with Sorcha Lewis, Community Development Worker with Offaly Traveller Movement, to find out how they used the 16 Days of Action in 2012 to raise awareness in their community. We hope that you will learn from the experiences they share here. You can share your own experiences, and see what other organisations have to say about their campaign, on the 16 Days blog at www.womensaid.ie/16daysblog/.

Women’s Aid (WA): What is it that makes the 16 Days of Action an important priority for your organisation?

Offaly Traveller Movement: It is important as it highlights domestic violence and refocuses domestic violence as an issue for the organisation once a year. It re-engages the community on the issue of domestic violence. It also shows victims of domestic violence that we are in solidarity with them and raises awareness of where to go for help.

WA: Please describe your campaign actions for the 16 Days of Action in 2012.

Offaly Traveller Movement: We performed a play at a national seminar in partnership with Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service. The play was a role play of ‘Barring and Safety Orders: What Steps to Take’, an illustrated leaflet on domestic violence orders published by Pavee Point. Our Primary Health Care team also had an awareness day during the campaign.

WA: What would you highlight as successful outcomes of your campaign actions?

Offaly Traveller Movement: Feedback from the seminar was that our play had a huge impact on the audience, as they were able to remember the information provided.

WA: Would you have any advice for other organisations that are eager to get involved in the 16 Days of Action in 2013?

Offaly Traveller Movement: Plan ahead and remember that it is very important to get involved and partner with other organisations in your locality.

5 Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.Telephone: 01-6788858Email: 16days@womensaid.ie

www.womensaid.ieNational Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900

WOMEN’S AIDMaking Women and Children Safe

“ Don’t be afraid to call if you are afraid of someone close”

Women’s Aid re-ran our ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ national public awareness campaign in September. The campaign encourages women living with domestic abuse to speak up and to call the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900.

You can listen to the campaign radio ad at www.womensaid.ie. You can support the campaign by displaying or distributing posters and leaflets with information on domestic violence and Women’s Aid. Email comms@womensaid.ie to request an information pack.

If you have been affected by any issues covered in this newsletter or know someone who has, you can call the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 (10am-10pm) for support and information or visit www.womensaid.ie.

Campaign Spotlight: Local Action in Ireland

Ballybeg CDP, Waterford taking part in the One in Five National Balloon Action 2012