Day 9
Women's Aid Ireland
Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 20:58
Women’s Aid has been working to address the issue of domestic violence in Ireland for more than 30 years. Our direct services to women experiencing domestic violence underpin and inform all our work towards ending violence against women.
The Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900) operates from 10am to 10 pm daily and provides support and information to callers experiencing abuse primarily from intimate partners. Our Support Services Team provide more in-depth one-to-one information and support, Monday to Friday, in locations throughout Dublin. Currently, Women’s Aid also provides specialised training to assist a wide range of agencies in developing appropriate services to women experiencing domestic violence including: nurses, doctors, social workers, mental health workers, family support workers, community care workers, and students at the Garda Training College.
All of Women’s Aid services to women operate from principles of: confidentiality; maximising women’s safety at all times; supporting women’s increasing autonomy while recognising the woman as expert in her own situation; commitment to ensuring justice for the victim and accountability and sanctions against violent men; being informed and knowledgeable about rights, entitlements and options for women to ensure appropriate and responsible referral; recognising that the best form of child protection in domestic violence situations is woman protection; advocating for women’s rights; addressing additional barriers and discriminations that women experience; ongoing commitment to action for political and institutional change; encompassing key feminist principles within the philosophy and ethos of the organisation.
Please visit our website www.womensaid.ie to find out more.
Each year, Women’s Aid takes part in the International 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women. This year, our ‘Home Truths: Think Women’s Human Rights – Think Home’ Campaign marks the 60th Anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by highlighting the home as the place where women in Ireland are most vulnerable to human rights abuses. For more information on all our actions during the campaign, please visit ttp://ireland16days.blogspot.com
As part of the Home Truths campaign, we also launched the ‘Love Hearts’ Postcard awareness campaign, which features the much loved candy love heart sweets embellished with ‘sweet nothings’. On deeper examination, the ‘sweet nothings’ featured are actually sinister messages full of foreboding and control. The campaign highlights the fear and violence which can often lie under the façade of a loving partner/husband.
Ireland16days.blogspot.com
During the 16 Days Campaign, Women’s Aid runs a blog which keeps track of all the groups throughout Ireland holding events to highlight the issue of violence against women. The blog also features a ‘Take Action’ section, a Human Rights resource section and downloadable campaign tools as well as an online archive of the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.
16 Facts for 16 Days
As part of the 16 Days of Action, Women’s Aid will also run its annual 16 Days Email Awareness Campaign, whereby the latest international and national statistics on violence against women are mailed every day to thousands of recipients including politicians, media, unions, community groups, and the interested public.
Women's Aid
Everton House
47 Old Cabra Road
Dublin 7
