20th February 2019
According to the World Health Organization, at least 1 out of 3 women have experienced partner violence in their local environment, but when they dare to talk about it, part of the society greets them with accusations – “what did you say to him?”, “it’s your own fault” as a study by the Human Rights Monitoring Institute was presented. In order to encourage women to speak and seek for help, without prejudice to possible preconceptions and negative reactions, Lithuania is launching the first virtual forum for female victims of violence at MoterysMoterims.lt. Women will be informed about the new platform in a two-week campaign on TV, media, social networks and public spaces (see the video bellow).
“Women who have been involved in a violent environment in our research have expressed their willingness to share their experiences and inspire other women to seek help. It has become an incentive for us together with our partners to create a virtual and anonymous, if requested by women, platform for mutual assistance between each other. ”- Ugnė Grigaitė, Project Manager of the Human Rights Monitoring Institute and coordinator of the” Women for Women” social campaign.
In the Forum MoterysMoterims.lt, women who are victims of violence will not only share their personal stories and experiences how they recognized partner’s violence, how they escaped relationships, how life had changed for them, what helped to get back on their feet, but also will be able to give practical advice on where to turn to and how to communicate with assisting institutions or what is important to know about temporary life in a crisis center, and so on. Women who suspect that they are being subjected to psychological, economic, sexual or physical violence will find useful information in the forum to help them ask control questions and assess the situation that they have.
“The forum will be a place where women will feel safe, share experiences, advice, and find support that they might be lacking in everyday life. The experience of women who have experienced violence and who have left the environment of violence is invaluable to other women – for those who may be hesitant at the moment, do not trust themselves, blame themselves, “says Agneta Skardžiuvienė, Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson.
About public service ad „Women for Women“
The Women for Women campaign is organized by the Human Rights Monitoring Institute, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, the Center for Equality Advancement and the Nomoshiti social advertising agency. This campaign is part of the movement “For Safe Lithuania” initiated by President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Women will be informed about the new platform in a two-week campaign on TV, media, social networks and public spaces.
This is the third campaign of a “Stop Violence Against Women: From (A)wareness to (Z)ero Victims Blaming”. The first campaign, “This is also violence,” was aimed at raising public awareness of the different forms of violence against women in their close environment. The second “Support” campaign was aimed at reducing the public accusation of victims of violent relationships.
Campaing video (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Russian subtitles available):
This public service ad was funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union. The content of it is the sole responsibility of the Office of the Equal Opportunities and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.