AN INTERNATIONAL campaign which calls for the elimination of violence against women and children will be supported by highlighting the issue via a social media campaign and several online and in-person events in Aberdeen.
The 16 Days of Action campaign runs from Saturday 25 November (International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women), through to Sunday 10 December (International Human Rights Day), with the aim of highlighting the connection between human rights and domestic violence.
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Councillor Miranda Radley, Convener of Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee, at Aberdeen City Council, said: “Councillor Miranda Radley, Convener of Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee, at Aberdeen City Council, said: “The 16 Days of Action campaign is about increasing women’s safety and showing solidarity with women around the world.
The 16 days of action is key for raising awareness of violence against women, the nature and prevalence of incidents and the human rights we all have.
The Council continues to work with local partners to tackle violence against women in Aberdeen and further afield.”
Aberdeen’s Violence Against Women Partnership, of which Aberdeen City Council is a member, will focus on awareness raising via its X (formerly known as Twitter) page @Aberdeen_VAWP. Partner organisations across the city are being encouraged to share the message of ‘#imagine a Scotland without gender-based violence’, with an emphasis on children and young people, encouraging more work within education settings in response to challenging issues in these areas.
Aileen Forbes, manager, of Grampian Women’s Aid and Co-Chair of Aberdeen’s Violence Against Women Partnership, said: “Grampian Women’s Aid and Aberdeen’s Violence Against Women Partnership are proud to once again take part in the activities planned across Aberdeen during 16 Days of Action.
“We are passionate about raising awareness of the expectations put on women to protect themselves and their children from abuse. We continue to campaign for better practices within society to shift these expectations away from victims and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Aberdeen City Council will be using the campaign to improve the workforce’s knowledge of gender-based violence, specifically around domestic abuse, to help council staff to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and be aware of the support available.
16 Days of Action activities and events
- Marischal College will be lit orange on Friday 24 November as part of a worldwide campaign to ‘Orange the World’ and spread the word about gender violence.
- Reclaim the Night March – Aberdeen Violence Against Women Partnership will be supporting the march on Saturday 25 November, which starts at 7.45pm outside Marks and Spencer’s at St Nicholas Centre and will proceed down to Union Terrace Gardens finishing around 8.45pm.
- Everyday Sexism – A conversation with the renowned author and activist Laura Bates will be held on Wednesday 6 December at 1pm on Microsoft Teams. Laura Bates is a leading voice in the fight for gender equality and an expert on issues surrounding violence against women. Please register via thisonline form to secure a place for this event.
- A Women’s Fair event will be held at Cowdry Hall on Tuesday 28 November from 10am-4pm for all women to attend, but particularly for those who have experienced domestic abuse and/or violence against women. Free Reiki, nail painting, workshops and refreshments will be available. Specialist services will also be at the event to provide advice and support to women on the day.
- Launch of new Domestic Abuse Support Database by Aberdeen’s Violence Against Women Partnership and Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership. The purpose of the database is to create ‘one true source’ of information on services, which will allow those who receive disclosures of domestic abuse or who are subjected to domestic abuse, to make the right referral at the right time. An online session on the development of the database will be held on Wednesday 6 December at 11am. Anyone who wishes to attend should email:
Violence against women includes, but is not limited to physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring in the family, general community or in institutions, sexual harassment and intimidation at work and in the public sphere, sexual exploitation, dowry-related violence, female genital mutilation, forced and child marriages, and honour crimes. These different forms of violence have their roots in gender inequality and are therefore understood as gender-based violence.
Some of the main contact numbers are listed below, more details can be found on the Domestic Abuse Support database: https://domesticabusesupport.aberdeencity.gov.uk/
Police Scotland
If you are in danger and it is an emergency, call 999. For non-emergencies call 101.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Free and confidential advice. Open to all. 24 hours a day.
Telephone: 0800 027 1234
Website: www.sdafmh.org.uk
Grampian Women’s Aid
Telephone: 01224 593381
Website: www.grampian-womens-aid.com
Rape Crisis Grampian
Telephone: 01224 590932
Website: www.rapecrisisgrampian.co.uk
