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

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

Support the Women's Aid 'Love Hearts' Postcard Campaign

The Women's Aid 'Love Hearts' Postcard Campaign is continuing throughout the 16 Days Campaign.

Women's Aid is distributing 53,000 postcards nationwide to raise awareness of domestic violence and to profile the 16 Days campaign nationally and locally. We have been received great feedback about the postcard and most people find it a really effective and strong way to communicate the reality of domestic violence for many Irish women. Some of the feedback includes:

"Very effective at portraying emotional abuse"
"Very subtle but grabs you and gets the message across"
"Brilliant"
"Very attractive to young people"

10,000 cards have been distributed from Women's Aid to politicians, the media, community groups, family resource centres and other key activists, policy makers and interested individuals. Thank you to everyone who has distributed copies of the postcard within your local communities.
13,000 postcards are being distributed by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) throughout the 21 3rd level campuses over the 16 Days. This is a great way to reach young people to highlight the issue of domestic violence and we are delighted to be working with the USI this year.

30,000 postcards are being distributed in Dublin through the Pictureworks advertising company who have postcard racks in 210 venues across the city.

If you'd like to get a copy of postcard some are still available in pubs, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment venues. Pick one up today.

For more information on the Women's Aid 16 Days Campaign contact Christina Sherlock on 01-8684721.

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