Honouring International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
As we’re sure you’re aware, here at Penny Appeal, we’re orange in everything we do. We always aim to paint the town orange with our bold, innovative and transformative appeals and campaigns. But this November and December, our favourite colour takes on a new purpose as we stand in solidarity with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
The 16 days began on 25th November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs through to International Human Rights Day on 10th December. During this campaign, landmarks, buildings, and monuments worldwide light up orange to raise awareness for the urgent need to eliminate violence against women. Calling on activists, governments and UN partners to highlight the issues preventing and ending VAWG (violence against women and girls) this initiative aims to protect those who are vulnerable and marginalised.
Gender-based violence knows no boundaries and affects individuals across cultures, classes, and ages. Statistics reveal that one in three women experience domestic abuse during their lifetime and more than 5 women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family, emphasising the urgency for action and the importance of this campaign. From intimate partner violence to human trafficking, this 16 Days of Activism sheds light on the diverse forms of violence as well as educating victims on the signs of abuse.
One of the central themes of the campaign is amplifying the voices of survivors by sharing their stories. Survivors break the silence surrounding gender-based violence and inspire others to speak out. During these 16 days, charities and communities worldwide unite to listen, support, and empower survivors, because there is no shame in talking.
We’re dedicated to using your small change to make a BIG difference in our communities, nationally and internationally. That’s why we’re constantly driving new ideas to empower the most vulnerable. We have been involved in countless hugely successful initiatives over the years which benefit our local communities no matter their faith. One example is our partnership with Kiran Support Services, where we donated £10,000 to the charity which is dedicated to rehousing south Asian women fleeing domestic abuse. Our ‘Listening Line’ benefitted anyone who needed it from victims of domestic abuse to Afghan refugees struggling to navigate life in the UK, as well as those suffering with the isolation of the Covid-19 lockdown. Our team spent over 60,000 minutes providing listening ears and impactful support. We are proud to have been able to offer these services to the vulnerable members of our country who needed us most, and we must, and we will do more with your support, Insha’Allah!
For us here at Penny Appeal, orange is not just a colour, it’s a symbol of hope, a call to action, and most of all, our identity. This bright and optimistic colour represents our dedication to taking small change and making a BIG difference with it for the most vulnerable communities around the world. We share an orange spirit with the #16DaysofActivism and would like to extend our full support to this initiative. It is important though for our charity Penny Appeal to not be confused with an organisation who is solely dedicated to eradicating gender-based violence. Although we share the hope for a society free from domestic violence.
We’re always looking for new ways to support vulnerable individuals and communities both here at home and across the world. For anyone who needs support with anything raised in this blog, there are a number of organisations offering help and assistance throughout this 16 Days of Activism and beyond. Let’s stand united against all forms of domestic violence and use these 16 days to #OrangeTheWord
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THURSDAY 30 NOV 2023
