16 Days of Activism: Tackling violence against women and girls

News

Organisations across Falkirk and Forth Valley are taking in 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, held between 25th November and 10th December.

16 Days of Activism is an international campaign started by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.

Starting on the International Day Against Violence Against Women and ending on International Human Rights Day, the dates for the campaign link these issues together and emphasize that gender-based violence against women is a violation of human rights.

What is ‘gender-based violence’?

The term ‘Gender-based violence’ is used to describe the physical, financial, emotional, sexual, or harm and suffering caused in other ways against women and girls. This can include a range of crimes which are overwhelmingly, but not exclusively, carried out by men against women – such as rape, domestic abuse, stalking, and forced marriage.

All gender-based violence stems from the gender inequality – the inequality of power which has existed between men and women, historically and currently.

To learn more about addressing violence against women and girls in Scotland, you can read the Scottish Government’s Equally Safe Strategy or visit the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre.

This year, in Forth Valley, a series of Community Based Events have been organised during ’16 Days’ to raise awareness of these issues and the resources available in the local area. Events include:

  • Launch event at the Stirling Campus of Forth Valley College,
  • Pop-ups at the University of Stirling, Forth Valley College, and Larbert Library.
  • White Ribbon Scotland Event at Stirling Train Station
  • Information session on the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) by Police Scotland
  • Online training and awareness raising events
  • and much more…
Kirsty’s Story

Aberlour Children’s Charity is sharing stories of domestic abuse survivors to spotlight the lasting impact of gender-based violence in Scotland. Here Kirsty shares how domestic abuse affected her mental health and her children. For more information and to learn about local support options, visit equallysafefalkirk.co.uk

Take part

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence takes place between 25th November and 10th December 2023.

A full programme of events is available below, including online and in-person events and opportunities to get involved, learn, and spread the message of the campaign. Further information and registration links to events can be found in the programme booklet.

Events Programme

Wednesday, 22 November

  • Launch event at Graham High School. Local schools will send a team of MVP Mentors, captains, and teachers to take part in a lip sync battle for charity. Funds raised will go to Committed to Ending Abuse (CEA).

Saturday, 25 November

  • Orange Café at the Scottish Parliament: organised by Soroptimist International. Soroptimists observe the 25th of each month as ‘Orange the World Day’ as designated by the United Nations in its campaign to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls. As part of this campaign, Soroptimists meet at a café on the 25th of each month and wear orange. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence. This is a social time and an opportunity to find out more about the work of Soroptimists and the ‘Orange the World Day’. This event is open to everyone.

Monday 27 November

  • Forth Valley Launch Event: This will be an opportunity to network
    Stirling Campus and meet people who are committed to ending Violence Against Drip Road Women and Girls. The event will have speakers from Stirling Council, Stirling FK8 1RD Falkirk Council, Clackmannanshire Council, and young people from Stirling high schools. If you are interested in attending this event, please
    contact Courtney Riley at rileyc@stirling.gov.uk for more information.
  • Lornshill Academy PSE Year 3 – (Domestic Abuse) (for school pupils only): Tullibody Road This is an awareness raising session delivered to Year 3 pupils at Alloa FK10 2ES Lornshill Academy organised by the Children & Young People’s team at Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid.
  • Lornshill Academy PSE Year 2 – (Gender Stereotypes) (for school pupils only): Tullibody Road This is an awareness raising session delivered to Year 2 pupils at Alloa FK10 2ES Lornshill Academy organised by the Children & Young People’s team at Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid.

Monday, 28 November

  • 11:00-13:00 Online Session Recognising and Responding to Coercive Control: (for professionals and practitioners)
    This is an online session delivered by Stirling and District Women’s. This session will look at the dynamics of Coercive Control within abusive relationships, what the law says about Coercive control, where to go to get help and how to support others who may be experiencing domestic abuse. If you are interested in attending this event, please email info@stirlingwomensaid.co.uk to book a place.
  • 12:00-15:00, Airthrey Road, Stirling University Stalls at the University of Stirling Campus: This is an opportunity to meet and engage with key partner agencies who work to prevent and eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls in the Forth Valley area. Stalls include; University of Stirling support; Reclaim Stirling; Central
    Advocacy Partners; NHS/SARCS/The Meadows; Stirling and District
    Women’s Aid; Forth Valley Rape Crisis; Victim Support, White Ribbon
    Stirling. Everyone is welcome to this event to find out what these
    organisations do, what services are on offer and how to access support
    if you or anyone you know needs it.
  • 15:00-16:00 Stirling University Airthrey Road: Guest talk on Violence Against Women & Girls:  The Unspoken Pandemic: This session is for all university staffa nd students.

Wednesday, 29 November

  • 0900-1700, White Ribbon Event: White Ribbon Scotland will be hosting an event at Stirling train station. Members of White Ribbon Scotland and thelocal White Ribbon Stirling Steering Group will be engaging with members of the public to raise awareness of the local White Ribbon Campaign and the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. Members of the public will be encouraged to sign the White Ribbon Scotland Pledge and get involved in the campaign on social media.
  • 9:30-16:00, Stirling Community Enterprise Centre, Responding to a Disclosure of Rape & Sexual Assault: This event is only open to services and agencies working in Clackmannanshire and Stirling. If you would like to attend, please send an email to ssld@clacks.gov.uk.
  • 11:30-14:00 Equally Safe Falkirk Open Day – Watling Lodge
  • 15:00-17:00 Women Only Self-Defense Class Led by a Student – University of Stirling Muay Thai Club – (for University staff and students only)

Thursday, 30 November

  • 9:15-16.00 Safe and Together 4 Days Core Practice – Services/agencies in Clacks only, email ssld@clacks.gov.uk – (Patons Building)
  • 12:00-14:00 Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) – Police Scotland (please email rileyc@stirling.gov.uk if you would like to attend) – Online Event
  • 11:30-13:30 Stalls at Forth Valley College – (Alloa Campus)
  • 15:30-17.00 Misogyny in the Media – session facilitated by Stirling Women’s Aid for the Students’ Union – (for University staff and students)

Friday, 1 December

  • 9:15-16.00 Safe and Together 4 Days Core Practice – Services/agencies in Clacks only, email ssld@clacks.gov.uk – (Patons Building)
  • 14:00-15:30 GBV and Disability Awareness Raising – please email rileyc@stirling.gov.uk if you would like to attend – Online Event

Sunday, 3 December

  • UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Monday, 4 December

  • 9:15-16.00 Safe and Together 4 Days Core Practice – Services/agencies in Clacks only, email ssld@clacks.gov.uk – (Patons Building)
  • 10:30 Stalls – Larbert Library
  • 14:00-16.00 Misogyny and Media – Stirling Women’s Aid. Please contact info@stirlingwomensaid.co.uk to book a place – Online session
  • 14:00-16.00 Promoting Healthy Relationships – Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid – (Spiers Centre)

Tuesday, 5 December

  • 9:15-16.00 Safe and Together 4 Days Core Practice – Services/agencies in Clacks only, email ssld@clacks.gov.uk – (Patons Building)
  • 11:30-13:30 Stalls at Forth Valley College – (Falkirk Campus)
  • 11:00-13.00 Sexploitation – What/Who do we know? – Clacks Community Justice Partnership – Online session
  • 14:00-15.00 First Responder and Welfare Referrals Training (focus on GBV) – University of Stirling Students only – Online event

Wednesday, 6 December

  • 14:00-15.00 First Responder and Welfare Referrals
    Training (focus on GBV) – University of Stirling Staff only – Online

Thursday, 7December

  • 11:00-13.00 Beyond Glass Walls: Improving the Justice Response to Domestic Abuse – Clacks Community Justice Partnership – Online
    session
  • 11:30-13:30 Stalls at Forth Valley College – (Stirling
    Campus)
  • 18:30 Reclaim the Night March – University of Stirling
    Campus – (everyone welcome)

Friday 8th December

  • 9:30-11.00 Safe and Together Briefing – Equally Safe Falkirk – Online event Join the meeting online (Microsoft Teams Link)
  • 13:00-13.30 Introduction to Sexual Violence and Misconduct Liaison Officers – for students and staff at the University of Stirling – Online

Sunday 10th December

  • Human Rights Day