25th NOVEMBER - 10th DECEMBER 2008

25th NOVEMBER - 10th DECEMBER 2008
WHAT IS THE 16 DAY CAMPAIGN?
The 16 Days Campaign is an international campaign started in 1991 by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership in New Jersey. Since then, over 2,000 organisations in 154 countries have taken part. In Ireland, the 16 Days Campaign continues to gather momentum since the first Women's Aid public action outside Dáil Éireann in November 1996.

DATES
The dates, 25th November (International Day Opposing Violence Against Women) and 10th December (International Human Rights Day) symbolically link violence against women and human rights to show that such violence is a violation of a woman's human rights.


THE AIMS
The 16 Days Campaign has been an opportunity for individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

1. Highlighting the nature and prevalence of violence against women.
2. Raising awareness of violence against women as a human rights issue.
3. Showing solidarity among women around the world.
4. Putting violence against women on the political and media agenda.
5. Stregthening local work aimed at tackling violence against women.

Women's Aid will post regular updates listing details of 16 Days events and awareness raising activities being held around Ireland. If you are organising an event, no matter how big or small, please submit details to christina.sherlock@womensaid.ie or call us on 01-8684721


WOMEN'S AID 16 DAYS 'HOME TRUTHS' CAMPAIGN

WOMEN'S AID 16 DAYS 'HOME TRUTHS' CAMPAIGN
EVERY DAY IN IRELAND women are beaten, raped and trapped in their own homes by those closest to them - their husbands and partners. One in five Irish women experience domestic violence. It can affect every woman regardless of age, marital status, class or cultural background. Domestic violence is a violation of a woman's right to safety, to freedom, and all too often, to her right to life itself.

Women's Aid will mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights during the 16 Days of Action 2008 by running the 'HOME TRUTHS: THINK WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS - THINK HOME' campaign.

For most of us HOME is a place of love, respect and safety - a sanctuary from the stresses and trials of every day life. However, for an estimated 213,000 women in Ireland, home is a place where they experience injury, severe abuse, fear and terror.

Article 5 of the UDHR affirms that 'No one shall be subjected torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.' However, this basic human right is not realised for the many women in Irish society who experience physical, emotional and sexual abuse in their own homes.

Women's Aid's series of actions during the 16 Days Campaign will bring to light the truth about 'HOME' for one in five Irish women.

Click here for more information on the Women's Aid 'Home Truths' Campaign.

16 DAYS ONLINE RESOURCES

The 16 Days Campaign will only work with the support of people in local communities and other organisations nationwide. Each of us can make a difference and demand an end to violence against women.

Women's Aid has pulled together some online resources
that may be useful if you would like to participate in or support the 16 Days Campaign.


CAMPAIGN EVENTS & UPDATES

Keep up to date with all events and actions in Ireland during the 16 Days Campaign below:

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Freedom from Pornography Action Day

Join FfPC to create a pornography free world!

In a press release this morning, Joanne McMinn, Director of the National Women's Council, said, 'Designating today, December 4th, as 'Freedom from Pornography Day' is an important step in the fight against pornography here in Ireland and around the World. Today also allows us to highlight the very harmful effects of pornography and to name it as a violation of women's human rights.

' Research consistently demonstrates that pornography is harmful to the women engaged in it, to women in society generally and to the men who use it. Pornography is harmful because it objectifies, dehumanizes and humiliates women. The sexual assault of women is depicted in
pornography as normal, acceptable and even pleasurable to women'.

' The NWCI supports Freedom from Pornography Day and calls on the
Government today, to protect women's human rights through political
action to address the harm of pornography,' Ms McMinn concluded.

Freedom from Pornography Campaign (FfPC) is asking all people, groups and organisations to designate Thursday, December 4th as a day of action against pornography. The day provides an opportunity to take action against pornography.

FfPC suggests the following actions to assert the Freedom from Pornography agenda on or around the 4th:
  • Sporting the Campaign colours by wearing lilac and purple ribbon (the colours of the pornography free movement in Ireland)
  • Telling people why you are wearing it and what the campaign is about
  • Displaying campaign leaflets in your work place
  • Sending leaflets and ribbons to other organisations and individuals explaining the FfPC aims and why it is important for people to join in the campaign for a pornography free world.
  • Holding a discussion or eductaion workshop on the harm based definition of pornography

If you or your organisation would like to receive FfPC materials, or if you have participated in any way, please email freedomfpc@eircom.net or ring 086 8723052.

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