Why
November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – or Orange Day. This day is a good opportunity to raise awareness in the neighbourhood about the topic and StoP activities. Local, national and social media often report on violence against women around this day, so the public may be alerted to this issue, and local media may be more willing to report about your StoP project. Activities also often continue up to International Human Rights Day on 10 December. This period is called the 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women.
What
- Information Booth:
The aim of the information booth is to raise awareness that femicides are just the tip of the iceberg. Violence against women and children can be prevented, and those affected can receive earlier support through strong community ties and civil courage. - Photo Campaign:
The photo campaign invites passers-by to complete the sentence: “I am against violence against women because...”. Participants can write their personal statement and take a photo with their slogan. They can take the photo with them and, with consent, it will also be shared on StoP's social media channels. - Visualizing Femicides Through Clothing:
Each item of clothing displayed will represent a femicide in the state/area for the current year, offering a powerful visual reminder of the issue. - Banners from StoP and Partner Organizations:
Banners will highlight the work of StoP and its partners, drawing attention to their efforts in combating violence. - Additional Activities:
To further engage the public, live music performances (such as a singer with a guitar) and spray campaigns (chalk art on the ground) can help draw attention to the event and encourage participation.
Objectives
- Making femi(ni)cides visibleRaisins awareness among neighbours
- Visualising the number of femi(ni)cides through everyday objects (clothing) and thus
creating a link to the everyday lives of passers-by/residents - Active positioning (photo campaign)
Facilitators Guide
A public campaign will be held on 25 November to draw attention to the number of femicides in the current year.
The campaign itself is also an activity for the local Stop community group. In preparation, the group can discuss the topic and the aims of the campaign. It is important that the group itself defines goals for the campaign and works on the content of the information flyers. In preparation for the actual afternoon, the group participants should think about concrete actions (approaching people, distributing flyers, spraying, making public statements themselves) and be encouraged to carry these out together in order to avoid uncertainty on the day in public.
The activity may also aim to address the local network, possibly also via the group participants. To this end, specific consideration should be given to who invites whom and how, and how contact with the network partners is organised during the afternoon. The same aplies to the (local) press.
Time and people needed
Time: One day + preparation at venue and in the stop community group
People: 2–20
Target groups
- Local community
- Local (new) cooperation partners
- StoP community group: planning and carrying out a public activity
Steps / Action
Preparation
- Discuss and decide about the activity, the background of Orange Day and objectives with the StoP activist group.
- Recruit co-operation partners at the event location.
- Info sheet and banner: design and text created together with the StoP community group a couple of weeks before. The info-sheet should be easy to understand so that people can read what the action is all about.
- Design a stencil for spray campaign.
- Get permission from local authorities.
- Invite (local) press, network.
- Hanging up the clothes as a garment installation with the info sheet and banners the day before.
Action
- Information stand, photo campaign and possibly live music and spray action for 2-3 hours in the afternoon
- Assembly and dismantling before and after.
Material
- Tent (optional)
- Table
- Information sheets
- Clothes (as many as femicides occurred/were committed this year) + possibility to hang up the clothes
- Camera
- Printer
- Consent forms for publishing photos
- Information material about StoP
- Paper templates for the statements (“I am against violence against women* because ...“)
- Fixing material (banner, clothes, information sheet)
- Big StoP banner or flags
- Stencils and chalk (spray)
- Electric outlet for the printer
