UN Women urges to ‘Light the Dark’ to end violence against women
UN Women in Turkey draws attention to violence against women and girls in public spaces with the “Light the Dark” campaign during 16 Days of Activism. UN Women calls everyone to mark the places where they feel unsafe with a firefly on a Turkey map at atesbocekleri.info.Date:
(Ankara, 25 November) – The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. To kick off the campaign this year, UN Women Turkey is launching a national “Light the Dark” campaign to draw attention to safety of women and girls in public spaces.
Fireflies light the dark when they feel unsafe
The “Light the Dark” campaign aims to end violence against women in public spaces and contribute to create safer cities and violence free public spaces. The inspiration of the campaign is fireflies, which communicate with and protect one another with their blinking lights. The campaign calls for actions by all citizens, local authorities and public institutions, to make cities and public spaces safe, healthy, inclusive and secure environments for everyone to live and participate in urban life without fear of violence and intimidation. Using fireflies that light the dark as its logo, the campaign invites everyone to visit the website atesbocekleri.info and mark those spaces where they feel unsafe. The participants can also share their personal experience by leaving their comments.
Violence in public spaces
Women and men live in the same city but experience public spaces differently. Women and girls all over the world are exposed to verbal, sexual, physical, economic, psychological harassment and other forms of violence in public spaces (on the streets, at work, or social places) - when they are walking on the streets, running errands, using public transport or using public facilities. Violence has a negative impact on their access to social activities, education, employment and leadership opportunities, as well as their health and well-being. A life free from violence is one of the prerequisites for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
During 16 Days of Activism, UN Women calls for support and engagement in the campaign by using the hashtags in Turkish #ateşböcekleri and #karanlığıaydınlat and aim to mobilize everyone to make the spaces that we live safer.
For UN Women Turkey social media accounts: @UNWomenTurkey