The Leas Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, Councillor Damien Riedy will join fellow elected representatives and a range of local community groups and service providers to bring ‘16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women 2011’ to a close at a ceremony in Limerick County Hall on Friday 09 December.
Limerick County Council is this week hosting an exhibition of artwork relating to Domestic Abuse, at County Hall from Wednesday 7th December to Friday 9th December. The work includes ceramics, symbolic objects and paintings.
Members of the public will be able to view the work of women who have used the services of ADAPT and learn more about how domestic abuse affects the family and the community.
In Limerick City and County each year, Community Groups and Service Providers hold events to raise awareness about the issue that affects women and children throughout the County. Local community and women’s groups, student groups, and others, have been holding local awareness raising events throughout the country since the ‘16 Days of Action’ commenced on 25 November.
According to Councillor Riedy: “It is estimated that 1 in 5 women in Ireland experience abuse in intimate relationships. The primary objective of the ‘16 Days’ campaign, which is an international initiative, objective is to raise awareness of the reality of domestic violence and to push for positive change to increase women's safety in their local community. The campaign began in 1991 since then over 3,400 groups and 164 countries worldwide have taken part”.
Councillor Riedy noted: “There needs to be more acceptance of the fact that violence and abuse within the home are no longer purely 'domestic' issues. The problems belong to society at large, and the only way of addressing them is by Irish society delivering a unilateral and resolute response. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are protected and supported.”
“Support organisations such as ADAPT are on the frontline. Each day, they encounter survivors of such abuse and they serve as an invaluable outlet for the affected persons”, the Leas Cathaoirleach concluded.
Commenting in the upcoming art exhibition, Jess Angland of ADAPT said: “It is hoped to leave a piece of artwork behind as a permanent reminder that domestic abuse happens in all our communities, it can be our neighbor, our sister, our friend and it is all our responsibility to break the silence on domestic abuse. The ‘16 Days’ Campaign is successful because of the support of people in local communities and organizations nationwide, raising more awareness of the issue of domestic violence in our communities each year.”
This year, the Campaign was launched by the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Jim Long. Events featured in ‘16 Days of Action 2011’ include an ADAPT awareness raising stand at the Crescent Shopping Centre; a seminar in Newcastle West on the legal options available to women; Red Ribbon Project workshop on ‘Relationship Confidence’; and a Banulacht Conference on the Empowerment of Women at Thomond Park on Friday 9th December.
ADAPT Limerick has a 24 hour Freephone Helpline 1800 200 504 and 24 hour access to safe refuge.
Members of the public will be able to view the work of women who have used the services of ADAPT and learn more about how domestic abuse affects the family and the community.
In Limerick City and County each year, Community Groups and Service Providers hold events to raise awareness about the issue that affects women and children throughout the County. Local community and women’s groups, student groups, and others, have been holding local awareness raising events throughout the country since the ‘16 Days of Action’ commenced on 25 November.
According to Councillor Riedy: “It is estimated that 1 in 5 women in Ireland experience abuse in intimate relationships. The primary objective of the ‘16 Days’ campaign, which is an international initiative, objective is to raise awareness of the reality of domestic violence and to push for positive change to increase women's safety in their local community. The campaign began in 1991 since then over 3,400 groups and 164 countries worldwide have taken part”.
Councillor Riedy noted: “There needs to be more acceptance of the fact that violence and abuse within the home are no longer purely 'domestic' issues. The problems belong to society at large, and the only way of addressing them is by Irish society delivering a unilateral and resolute response. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are protected and supported.”
“Support organisations such as ADAPT are on the frontline. Each day, they encounter survivors of such abuse and they serve as an invaluable outlet for the affected persons”, the Leas Cathaoirleach concluded.
Commenting in the upcoming art exhibition, Jess Angland of ADAPT said: “It is hoped to leave a piece of artwork behind as a permanent reminder that domestic abuse happens in all our communities, it can be our neighbor, our sister, our friend and it is all our responsibility to break the silence on domestic abuse. The ‘16 Days’ Campaign is successful because of the support of people in local communities and organizations nationwide, raising more awareness of the issue of domestic violence in our communities each year.”
This year, the Campaign was launched by the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Jim Long. Events featured in ‘16 Days of Action 2011’ include an ADAPT awareness raising stand at the Crescent Shopping Centre; a seminar in Newcastle West on the legal options available to women; Red Ribbon Project workshop on ‘Relationship Confidence’; and a Banulacht Conference on the Empowerment of Women at Thomond Park on Friday 9th December.
ADAPT Limerick has a 24 hour Freephone Helpline 1800 200 504 and 24 hour access to safe refuge.
