Local Campaigns and Events

A SAFE PLACE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO ACCESS INFORMATION

WHAT IS A SAFE PLACE?

Safe Place is a new initiative.  We were asking local businesses to work with us in providing information for victims of domestic violence.  It is estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime.  In most businesses, it is likely that customers, service users or clients will include victims of domestic violence on a daily basis.

WHAT WOULD BUSINESSES HAVE TO DO?

The Safe Place logo will identify businesses as a Safe Place to ask for information.

Charities, such as Women's Aid and Victim Support support thousands of people every year, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  We need to find a way to inform victims that there is an alternative to living with violence.

Social isolation from friends and family is common within abusive relationships, and many will not know where they can access help, or even that help is available.

We want to work with businesses in getting the message out that there is help for people who want to get out of an abusive relationship and that help is available locally.

WHAT BUSINESSES WOULD NOT HAVE TO DO...

Signing up to the Safe Place scheme does not mean that businesses have to do anything beyond signposting people to the appropriate services. 

Onus will provide information to all business who sign up to the scheme.  The Safe Place logo will be promoted so that customers will recognise the symbol and will know they can access information if they so wish.

The launch of 'Safe Place' took place on 22.02.11 in parliament buildings.

For further information please complete the registration form below and send to info@onustraining.co.uk or telephone 02825 632 136.

Safe Place Registration Form

Family Portrait - Voice of a Victim

The Young Voices Against Domestic Violence consists of 18 young people who meet weekly and talk about issues surrounding domestic violence.

On 29 November 2010 and 31 January 2011, they performed their play "Family Portrait, Voice of a Victim", in the Braid Centre, Ballymena & The Old Courthouse, Antrim.

A DVD of the play is available on request.

For further details please contact elaine.womensaid@btconnect.com or tel: 02825 632136. 

For further information on the Young Voices Group Against Domestic Violence please log on to Facebook. 

White Ribbon Campaign

Women’s Aid ABCLN and our 100 Champions launched a year long campaign on 25th November 2008, International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.  25th November marks the beginning of 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women, ending on 10th December – International Human Rights Day.   

Women’s Aid ABCLN have hosted a series of White Ribbon events. The photograph below shows 100 men supporting the campaign in 2008.

Wearing a White Ribbon is a symbol the wearer pledges ‘never to commit, condone or stay silent about violence against women’.   

In 2009 Women's Aid ABCLN gathered signatures from across the 5 areas, and on Monday 30th November, NIO Minister Paul Goggins, accepted the thousands of signatures from Women's Aid Area Manager, Rosemary Magill.

Among the signatures were 108 from every MLA elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly - according to Speaker William Hay, the first time he could recall all MLA's uniting unanimously behind a cause.

No Excuses for Domestic Violence

Women’s Aid ABCLN have an ongoing campaign to challenge the myths that surround domestic violence and raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence in our community.  It is estimated that one in four women will experience domestic violence or abuse at some stage in their lifetime.  Women’s Aid work with a wide range of partners to support victims and to stop perpetrators.  We believe domestic violence is a crime for which there are no excuses.