Community campaign event to end violence against women

WOMEN’S Collective Ireland recently hosted an event in Tallaght Library in line with the annual international campaign 16 Days of Action.

The campaign calls for communities to unite to end violence against women and girls.

The community event had an introduction from speakers, South Dublin Mayor Alan Edge, and Jennifer Phillips from Women’s Collective Ireland, after which artist Nessa Finnegan lead an Art Activism Workshop for everyone to create awareness raising posters which are being displayed in the windows of community spaces across the South Dublin community of Tallaght with the hashtag #yesitsabuse.

Jennifer Phillips, Coordinator of Women’s Collective Ireland (a registered Irish charity) – Tallaght, said, “It’s been fantastic to see so many in the community get behind this campaign.

“We hope the art activism displays created at our WCI Tallaght event will help raise awareness, not only around the lesser-known types of domestic abuse or redflags, but also to highlight we were people can reach out to for support.”

The posters created at the event highlight phrases that could be used against victims, types of abuse and stark statistics.

Participants representing several community organisations and spaces had the chance to help raise awareness among the wider community through accessible community art activism.

One participant, James Lumumba of the Don’t Be Afraid to Talk Podcast said, “It was fantastic to come together and create amazing pieces to shine a light on this issue against domestic violence”.

Lesley O’Reilly from Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre said, “It’s great to see more men getting involved here today, it’s great how Women’s Collective Ireland – Tallaght bring groups together each year to address this issue. Jennifer Phillips from Womens Collective Ireland Tallaght said “One in four women will be victims of intimate relationship abuse at some point in their lives, we need to lift the taboo in these conversations. Women often feel isolated, but they are not alone.”

Robert Whiteley from Connect 4 said “It was interesting looking at the messages and great to stand in solidarity with women on this issue”.

Also in attendance was councillor for South Dublin Cllr Louise Dunne who said, “Toxic masculinity needs to be called out by everyone if there is to be real change.

“Women’s Collective Ireland as a grassroots women’s organisation are doing incredible work in the community and it is wonderful to see so many here actively trying to make a difference.”

Women’s Collective Ireland – Tallaght coordinated the event to encourage everyone in Tallaght and surrounding areas to come together and collectively, through the medium of art, to create community awareness raising pieces of art.

WCI Tallaght strive to give women in our communities’ safe places to connect, find support and further the equality of women.

The event and community campaign hopes to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels, strengthen local work around gender-based violence against women and demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world organizing against gender-based violence against women.

WCI Tallaght also offer a free Domestic Violence Recovery Programme for Women, Reclaim Your Life, and can offer free Domestic Abuse Counselling.

Anyone in need of support can contact Saoirse DVS on 01-4630000 or Women’s Aid on 1800 341 900 24hrs a day.

Womens Aid extension website TooIntoYou.ie also has a relationship checker quiz to identify if your relationship has signs of abuse.

Intimate relationship abuse isn’t only physical, it also includes financial, emotional, verbal, sexual and psychological abuse, which can involve gaslighting and coercive control, beginning with love bombing in the early days of the relationship.

The pieces can be seen displayed till December