Orange campaign in Belarus is carried out by UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF and IOM. The aim of the campaign is to attract public attention to the issue of violence against women and to prevent domestic violence of which women is most likely to be a victim.
This worldwide initiative is realized by the UN agencies in the framework of the joint UN campaign Inclusive Belarus. The series of joint activities are directed towards raising public awareness on the challenges and barriers which vulnerable groups of society (people with disabilities, children, refugees, women and so on) are facing nowadays. The idea is that other members of the society make one part with people with fewer opportunities, we share one world and everyone should be concerned!
Orange campaign will start on 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with the joint orange ribbon campaign conducted by UN, Road Police, territorial centers of social services and volunteers of NGO Belarusian Young Women Christian Association. Volunteers will distribute orange ribbons, the symbol of a wow against violence towards women, and orange souvenirs. Orange ribbon campaign will take place in Minsk, Borisov, Grodno, Smorgon and Brest.
On the 4th of December National Library will be lit orange to support the campaign against violence towards women and girls. On this day UN agencies representatives will make statements on the importance of combatting violence against women and preventing domestic violence.
On the 8th of December during human rights film festival a movie on violence against women Die Fremde (Germany, 2010) will be demonstrated at Pobeda cinema. Before the film screening guests will receive orange ribbons with STOP VIOLENCEinscription and will see short social videos on ending violence against women with Max Mirnyi, Alexei Kalyuzhny and Yulia Vysotskaya.
Within 16 days of action against violence an intensive media campaign will be launched inviting social media users to orange their profiles, take quiz on Violence against women, watch social videos on ending domestic violence against women and to take part in a photo challenge ‘Say No to Violence against women and girls’etc.
Violence against women still prevents Belarusian women from exercising the human rights and fundamental freedoms. Women with less education and low income more often experience physical, sexual and economic violence.
[i]3 in 4 women in Belarus suffer from domestic violence. In 86, 2% cases aggressor is a man. 77, 3 of women at least once experienced an action of violence in Belarus.
More than ¼ of women who’ve been subject to violence, do not report and seek help. 9,5% of women lose their capacity to work as a result of domestic violence.
16, 9 % of women do not seek help, because they feel ashamed and are afraid of losing their reputation. 15, 9 % women hope, that this won’t be repeated. 13, 8 % - do not cause any harm of discomfort to their partner/husbands. 8, 5 % are afraid that it will just increase violent actions from their partners.
Non-ending violence towards women and girls is the result of social prejudices rooted in the tolerance towards violence. People forget that financial difficulties or unfair distribution of household responsibilities are not the motive to domestic violence. Violence does not have excuses! It is unacceptable!
Worldwide, up to 50% of sexual assaults are committed against girls under the age of 16. Globally, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime. Up to 70 % of women in the world report having experienced physical/sexual violence at some point of their lives. Over 60 % million girls worldwide forced to marriage before they reach 18.
«On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women we say again: It is not acceptable. It is not inevitable. It can be prevented.» (UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka).
«Ending violence against women should be a priority for every human being. This is not only a women’s issue; it affects all of us. As long as the dignity and well-being of half of humanity is at risk, peace, security and sustainable development will remain out of reach», - stated UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin.
Orange campaign is an initiative of the UN Secretary General UNiTE and UN Women which aims at raising awareness and taking action against violence against women and girls. The campaign starts on 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and continues until 10th of December, the International Human Rights Day. During these 16 days of action UN calls upon activists, governments and partners to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls.
For more information on Orange campaign please contact UNFPA Communication Specialist Ahniya Asanovich, tel. in Minsk: 327 45 27, mobile: 8 029 178 67 00 or by email: asanovich@unfpa.org.
