Sixteen days of action to end violence against women and girls
Date: 24 November 2009 (LS/030)
Birmingham Domestic Violence Forum and the Safer Birmingham Partnership will be leading on the development of the City’s ‘Sixteen Days of Action’ campaign, designed to raise awareness of the plight of women and children who suffer from domestic violence.
November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the beginning of the 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence against Women. It will also mark the launch and start of the White Ribbon Campaign, where individuals are encouraged to wear a white ribbon to show their support for an end to male violence against women.
A wide range of activity will be carried out across Birmingham during the 16 days. South West Domestic Abuse Forum kicks off the activity with an event at 12pm (tomorrow) at Kings Norton Fire Station, Pershore Road, Cotteridge. The Forum is calling on the public to show their support for this campaign by donating items which can be given to women and children on their first night as they enter a refuge. Amelia Murray, Northfield Community Safety Co-ordinator said, “This is a great opportunity for members of the public to do something small to show they care. Donations could be anything from a bar of soap to a colouring book or crayons. What is important is that this will bring great comfort at a time of need, as many families escaping violence arrive at refuges with little more than the clothes they are wearing”.
Anyone wishing to donate items should send them for the attention of Amelia Murray, Northfield Community Safety Partnership, Northfield Constituency Team, PO Box 10591, Birmingham. B31 4WH.
If you, or someone you care about is affected by domestic abuse, contact Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid in confidence on 0800 0732 606.
End
Notes to Editors
1. Please contact Lindsey Stubbins 0121 465 4937 for further information.
2. Additional events taking place over the 16 days of action include:
- Women’s Aid and Including Women will be running a mobile exhibition, ‘Having Our Say’, featuring life size silhouettes of women and children in refuge. The silhouettes will be decorated with initial messages at a community event then travel around community venues across the city inviting women and children to have their say about issues that affect them.
- Women’s Networking Hub are inviting women to join them at The Drum on 1st December for an evening of film, art workshops, theatre, poetry and a market place to raise awareness of violence against women.
For more information, visit the calendar of events at www.biadvf.org
3. The Safer Birmingham Partnership is a multi-agency organisation that includes West Midlands Police, Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Fire Service, Birmingham Primary Care Trusts, Third Sector Assembly, Probation Service and a range of other agencies. Safer Birmingham Partnership ensures the delivery of a range of community safety activity which is aimed at making Birmingham even safer.
The Safer Birmingham Partnership ensures a coordinated approach to crime reduction and community safety providing strategic leadership for partnership working in order to:
- Reduce crime & anti-social behaviour and tackle the misuse of drugs & alcohol;
- Improve public confidence that local crime and community safety priorities are being identified and addressed; and
- Tackle youth crime and develop effective strategies to reduce the involvement of young people in crime.
