Turn on the light for women’s safety on 25 November

The UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will be observed worldwide on Thursday, 25 November. The campaign defends women’s human rights, physical integrity, and the right to live free of violence. 

We are no strangers to this issue. Nearly one-third of Finnish women have experienced intimate partner violence by their current or former spouse after the age of 15. This year, we want to remind you of the exacerbating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against women and cast an eye at coping with it.

There is also Light, not Violence – a campaign to raise awareness of and combat violence against women at the same time. On 25 November at 17:00–19:00, the Finnish National Observatory on Violence against Women organises a free webinar on coping with experiences of violence(external link).

The topic will also be featured on the Espoo Equality Committee’s blog.

The UN campaign’s orange lights will shine on 25 November at the Espoo Cultural Centre, Exhibition Centre WeeGee, Sello Hall, Kannusali and Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora. We also challenge all Espoo residents to show their support.

• Turn on a light on a desk or at a window. You can participate in social media by using the tags #ValoaEiVäkivaltaa (light, not violence) and #ValaistaanEspoo (let’s light up Espoo).
• Dress in orange and share your photo on social media with the tags #OranssitPäivät (orange days) and #NaisenPaikkaOnElossa (a woman’s place is alive).

Help is available for intimate partner violence. Espoo-based actors working against intimate partner violence offer wide-ranging support to those who experience violence, the perpetrators and their children. Violence in a relationship is a crisis for the whole family. Contact us, ask and consult! The services are also available during the pandemic and are COVID-safe.

• Omatila, tel. +358 43 8250535 – support for identifying violence and for separation from and coping with violence; sheltered housing.
• Pellas Shelter(external link), tel. +358 40 4573840 (24/7) – free of charge and open to all who cannot stay at home due to violence, threats or fear.
• Lyömätön Linja Espoossa ry(external link), tel. +358 9 2766280 – for men who have used or fear they will use violence against their family or partner.

These Espoo-based actors against intimate partner violence are also involved in the Light, not Violence campaign.

• UN: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 25 November(external link)