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Elimination of Violence Against Women Day 2022

Elimination of Violence Against Women                          November 2022

          The idea of a yearly commemoration of the victims of violence against women began after the murder on November 25th, 1960 of three sisters, Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Maria Argentina Minerva Mirabal and Antonia Maria Teresa Mirabal on the orders of Dominican Republic ruler Rafael Trujillo, whose dictatorship they had been active in trying to end.  The date of their murder has been marked since 1981, was officially endorsed by the United Nations in 1999, and has been celebrated annually on November 25th since the year 2000.

          Last year’s campaign to ORANGE the world is followed this year by its UNiTE campaign of Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls.  Sixteen days of activism worldwide will aim to increase awareness and promote solutions to this crisis,   and a number of events are being organised by local authorities throughout Scotland, leading up to International Human Rights Day on Saturday, 10th December 2022.

Scotland and Violence Against Women

          The last year has seen the focus shift away from blaming women to trying to change men’s behaviour.  The Scottish government’s two recent policy initiatives aim to make men focus on their own behaviour and that of their friends.  Last year ‘That Guy’ made men re-think their own attitudes.  Its follow-up this year ‘Don’t Be That Guy’ encourages men to call out sexist or misogynistic behaviour in their friends, challenging behaviour like wolf-whistling or passing comments on a woman’s looks, which is often dismissed as just banter, aiming to prevent men from escalating into worse behaviour.

          But misogyny as a specific crime was omitted from the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 in favour of a new stand-alone misogyny offence which has yet to be introduced.  

Is a specific campaign still needed?

          Yes. Since the covid pandemic, 45% of women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a form of Violence Against Women and Girls.  Covid restrictions meant an increase in domestic abuse due to victims and perpetrators being ‘locked in’ together at home.  Seven in ten women said they think that verbal or physical abuse by a partner has become more common.  Six in ten felt that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened.  It is almost routine in places like the London Underground, due to trains being overcrowded and people crammed together like sardines.

          On average one woman is killed every three days in the UK, many by current or former partners, often with a history of violence between them.  A woman is most in danger when she is about to leave an abusive partner.  But fully one in twelve murders of women is by a total stranger.

          Some events for the coming 16 days are listed below but for direct links to activities and events in your area go to your local authority website for more information,  or alternatively visit Improvement Scotland at

is.improvement service 16 days of activism against gender-based violence

16 Days 2022 – Calendar of events

Friday 25th November

The North-East Violence against Women Forum

UHI Moray Conference Hall, Moray St. Elgin

9.30am-3.30pm

Register for The North-East Violence against Women Forum

Forth Valley Launch and March

Forth Valley College, Falkirk FK2 9AD

1.30pm-4.30pm

Contact ilsesanchez.posso@falkirk.gov.uk or linda.gilliland@falkirk.gov.uk for more information


Monday 28th November

Spotlight Workshop: Children and Young People Experiencing Violence Against Women and Girls

Online, MS Teams

2.00pm – 4.00pm

Register for Spotlight Workshop: Children and Young People Experiencing Violence Against Women and Girls

ASC Domestic Abuse Training from Medics against Violence

10am – 12pm

Online

Register for ASC Domestic Abuse Training from Medics against Violence

Dundee Reclaim The Night 2022

Magdalen Green

6.30-9.00pm

Information about Dundee Reclaim The Night 2022 available here


Tuesday 29th November

Spotlight Workshop: Embedding Safe & Together in Scotland – Creating Domestic Abuse Informed Systems, Service and Workforces

Online, MS Teams

1.30pm – 4.00pm

Register for Spotlight Workshop: Embedding Safe & Together in Scotland – Creating Domestic Abuse Informed Systems, Service and Workforce

A Scotland Free from Men’s Violence Against Women and Girls – Zero Tolerance

In person (Edinburgh) and online

3.00pm – 5.00pm

Register for A Scotland Free from Men’s Violence Against Women and Girls


Wednesday 30th November

Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girls and Mental Health

Online, MS Teams

9.30am – 11.30am

Register for Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girls and Mental Health

Trauma-informed practice and women who sell or exchange sex –  CSE Aware

Online, Zoom

11.30am – 1.00pm

Register for Trauma-informed practice and women who sell or exchange sex


Thursday 1st December

Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girl and Community Safety

Online, MS Teams

10.00am – 12.30pm

Register for Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girl and Community Safety

Coercive Control in Children’s Lives – Education Scotland

Online

10.00am-11.30am

Register for Coercive Control in Children’s Lives (Note: Priority for stakeholders working in education)

EmilyTest and Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid: Emily’s Story

11.00am – 12.30am

Online

Register for Emily’s Story

‘Izzat, aye?’: Let’s Talk About “Honour” –  Amina – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Glasgow City Chambers 82 George Square Glasgow G2 1DU

6.00pm-8.30pm

Register for ‘Izzat, aye?’: Let’s Talk About “Honour”


Saturday 3rd December

Dundee Spoken Word Poetry Night

7.00pm – 10.00pm

Rad Apples, 51-53 Meadowside, Dundee

Register for Dundee Spoken Word Poetry Night


Monday 5th December

From viewers to consumers: normalising men’s violence against women – Encompass

10.00am – 12.30pm

Online, Zoom

Register for From viewers to consumers: normalising men’s violence against women


Tuesday 6th December

Spotlight Workshop: Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Online, MS Teams

10.00am – 12.30pm

Register for Spotlight Workshop: Commercial Sexual Exploitation

South Ayrshire VAWP Reclaim the Night

5.30pm

Ayr Academy


Wednesday 7th December

Marac in Scotland

Online

9.30am-12.30pm

Register for Marac in Scotland


Thursday 8th December

National Conference

Online, MS Teams

Details coming soon


Friday 9th December

Dundee Finale Event in City Square

Flashmob 2.30pm

Public Vigil 7.45 – 8.30pm

Full Local Authority Programmes

Dundee programme of local events

East and Midlothian programme of local events


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