16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM 2023
“IMAGINE A SCOTLAND WITHOUT GENDER BASED VIOLENCE”
This years 16 days of activism takes off on 25th November and runs until 10th December. We have a calendar of local events happening over this period here in Shetland with some links to both local and national events.
The 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence is an annual campaign that starts on 25th November, The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and runs until 10th December, Human Rights Day.
The Improvement Service who co-ordinate the National Network for Violence Against Women have developed a 16 days toolkit of resources which include graphics, animations and more. You can follow the national calendar of events programme here
Local Events
Lerwick Town Hall light up – The Town Hall will be lit up on Monday 27th November to represent a future free from violence against women and girls, a Shetland where we can all feel safe, “Imagine a Scotland without Gender Based Violence”. This will be a mark of respect to all those who have been subjected to gender-based violence, and to those who have sadly lost their lives.
Survivors Voices - Shetland Domestic Abuse Partnership in collaboration with Shetland Women’s Aid, The Compass Centre and Alice Theatre have been working on a project for local women as survivors of domestic abuse to have a voice and to share their story. This started as an idea through discussions with colleagues at SWA where women through a series of workshops could share their stories, in their words, with their community. The emphasis from the start was very much on the women having full control to shape the workshops and have all creative rights to pull the correct elements together themselves with the full support of Women’s Aid, The Compass Centre, and Alice Theatre to do so. Throughout 16 days of activism recording will be taking place with survivors and actors with the project really starting to take shape. Both SWA and The Compass Centre will be sharing some of the ongoing work which will released in the spring of the year. Keep your eyes peeled on their social media platforms for further information.
Wednesday 29th November - Shetland Women’s Aid Information Session and Networking Event from 1400-1600 will be held at Islesburgh. This event is open to any professionals or organisation who would like to find out about the services provided by Women’s Aid locally.
30th November – Shetland Women’s Aid and The Compass Centre will be hosting a drop in at UHI Shetland from 1200-1400 at the Lerwick Campus for students and staff to drop in for a chat.
Tuesday 5th December – Shetland Women’s Aid and The Compass Centre will be hosting a drop In at UHI Shetland from 1100-1300 at the Scalloway Campus for students and staff to stop along for a chat.
Friday 8th December SDAP Re-Brand– Shetland Domestic Abuse Partnership will be launching their re-brand with a press release.
Monday 11th December – Gender Based Violence Training – Shetland Domestic Abuse Partnership will be launching some free e-learn training on Safer Shetland for to give an understanding of Gender Based Violence, the harm caused, and the disproportionate level of violence perpetrated against women and girls. This training gives both professionals and the wider community more understanding, links to Adult and Child Support and Protection with information on how to respond to a disclose and how to signpost and access more information if required. The e-learn will take around 20 minutes to complete.
For any events being held locally by Shetland Women’s Aid and The Compass Centre please follow their social media platforms on
Facebook Shetland Women's Aid and The Compass Centre
Instagram Shetland Women's Aid and The Compass Centre
Please take a minute to watch and listen to this video. The Theme is based on this years “Imagine a Scotland without Gender Based Violence” and is a poem written by Myra Ross, Highland Violence Against Women Partnership Imagine Poem
If your organisation has any events or campaigns running locally in Shetland for 16 days that you would like to highlight, please email [email protected]
16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE 2022
Pollyanna Paradox
By Stephanie Georgia Audio play
A powerful and thought-provoking play. Pollyanna Paradox is an original audio play exploring the felt impact of coercive control on a family. The play is centred around the character of ‘Polly’, a survivor of domestic abuse.
In collaboration with Shetland Women’s Aid and The Compass Centre and supported by Shetland Arts, this play has been written by local playwright Stephenie Georgia with creative input from survivors of domestic abuse in Shetland.
Pollyanna Paradox live recording. Please note recommended for ages 13+ 'Pollyanna' includes potentially upsetting themes with references to domestic abuse including coercive control, physical and sexual violence. Listen on
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y8CsMdaRoJg
Anchor: https://anchor.fm/shetland-arts/episodes/Pollyana-Paradox-by-Stephenie-Georgia-e1rjh8u
Synopsis:
‘There is always something about everything you can be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it.'
Pollyanna Paradox is an original audio play exploring the felt impact of coercive control on a family. The play is centred around the character of ‘Polly’, a survivor of domestic abuse. A year following the death of her husband she is returning to their villa in Spain with her family to make some big life decisions as the ripples of her husband's coercive control make their presence felt
