| | GLOBAL CAMPAIGN – 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE…. Kiltegan involved in the Campaign
The campaign: ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence’ begins on November 25th and finishes on December 10th, the day designated by the United Nations as International Human Rights Day. The link is deliberate, stating implicitly that gender violence is a violation of human rights that has to be eradicated. The 16 Days Campaign is an annual global campaign, now in its 17th year; its primary focus is raising awareness and ‘breaking the silence’ around the issue.
All of us have experienced what it is like to be part of a relationship with other people. We tend to think of relationships, particularly intimate relationships, in terms of closeness, sharing and partnership. For many of us thankfully this is the case and our relationships provide us with an opportunity to grow and develop as people. But what happens when the close intimate relationship you are involved in is the very relationship that is preventing you from growing, is causing you fear, is causing you harm or is in fact endangering your life?
| | Every form of abuse is wrong. Domestic violence is a crime. It is important to acknowledge that some men also experience violence from a partner. However our focus in this year’s campaign is violence against women because in Ireland today, research shows that one in five women experience abuse and violence in their intimate relationships. Whether it be name calling by their partner, controlling behaviour preventing them from living a normal life, or from having friends, or whether it is actual physical violence, it is all abuse. Any form of abuse is detrimental to a healthy relationship. | Tragically often women report feelings of shame when they are living with an abusive partner; rather than make the situation public or report their partner; or make a move to get out of the situation. Because of the abuse, which affects their thinking, women can wonder what they are doing wrong and what is causing this to happen to them. They often hide away and then cover up for their partners when they are a victim of domestic violence.
How can we as a community shift that blame from a woman and accept responsibility for what is happening to our family members, our neighbours, and our friends? We are all part of a community where we can do more by offering support to women and families to address this issue.
| | | One way is to raise awareness of the issue. We appeal to you to pay attention to radio ads on Domestic Violence which you will hear throughout the 16 days, to attend events organised in your local community and most importantly, to speak to people about Domestic Violence.
As part of our campaign we will be remembering the 136 women who have died in Ireland as a result of violence since 1996. We hope and pray that not another life will be lost in this way.
Here in St. Patrick’s, Kiltegan, we have committed ourselves to get fully involved in the ’16 Days of Activism Campaign’. Each day we are reflecting on a different story of violence, to raise awareness about this largely hidden crime, in our society. On Wed 28th November, Mairead Maddock, Coordinator of the Women’s Aid, in Carlow, spoke to the staff about domestic violence, during an extended coffee break.
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