Dublin City Council is supporting the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign with a striking visual installation along the River Liffey.
Launched yesterday, UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the flags will line the quays until Human Rights Day on 10 December.
The installation, titled “One in Three” is an artistic collaboration between Women’s Aid, visual artist Louis Haugh, and Dublin City Council, proposed by Councillor Hazel de Nortúin.
The work draws its design from the stark statistic that one in three women in Ireland have experienced domestic violence.
Using a reserved colour scheme, the flags make this reality visible in a powerful yet considered way.
Each flag bears names that remind us that domestic violence affects women we know and care for, reflecting the diversity of women living in Ireland today.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam said, “Violence against women is an affront to everything we stand for as a city and as a community. Dublin must be a place where every woman feels safe, at home, online, in our streets, and in every space that belongs to us all. This installation is a powerful and painful reminder that behind every statistic is a woman with a name, a family, a future. We owe it to them, and to one another, to reflect, to speak out, and to stand together in ending gender-based violence in all its forms. A safer Dublin is something we can only build together.”
Councillor Hazel de Nortúin said, “This installation is a call to action. Violence against women is not an abstract issue—it impacts our communities every day. By making these stories visible along the Liffey, we hope to spark conversations and inspire change.”
Women’s Aid CEO, Sarah Benson said, “Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue that affects every community in Ireland. Last year alone, Women’s Aid responded to over 32,000 contacts and heard almost 47,000 disclosures of abuse. These figures are staggering, but they are only the tip of the iceberg, as we know that one in three women has experienced domestic abuse. Behind every statistic is a woman, a child, a family living in fear. We need a whole-of-society response: stronger protections, better resourcing for specialist services, and a cultural shift that says clearly that abuse is never acceptable.”
The campaign aligns with UN Women’s global theme for 2025: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, highlighting the growing threat of online abuse alongside physical violence.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, reaffirming the urgent need for gender equality and safety in all spaces.
As part of the 16 Days campaign, the Dublin City Council Women’s Committee will host a meeting on 26 November with Darren O’Brien, founder of the UK’s Rail to Refuge scheme, which provides free train tickets to victims of domestic abuse seeking safety.
The initiative has helped over 1,000 people escape violence and was recognised with an MBE in 2021.