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Businesses and partners come together for 16 Days of Action, a campaign to end gender-based violence
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The campaign will run from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day
On Monday 25 November, Cheltenham Borough Council and partners will initiate its support for the “16 Days of Action” campaign, aimed at ending violence against women and girls. This initiative will commence with a community-wide effort to “Turn Cheltenham Orange”, encouraging businesses and residents to wear and display orange to show their commitment to this cause.
Throughout the 16 days, the council will share various safety measures and resources for victims of domestic abuse via its social media channels. These initiatives are informed by community consultations and the recent Purple Flag perception survey, which gathers data about night-time venues in Cheltenham, with safety being a factor.
This survey specifically seeks the perspectives of women and girls regarding their safety in Cheltenham’s town centre, particularly during evening and nighttime hours. To further the campaign for safer streets at night, the community to encouraged to join the Gloucestershire Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) in the Reclaim the Night walk through Cheltenham.
The Cheltenham community are invited to participate in Turning Cheltenham Orange by wearing orange clothing, decorating business windows, and engaging in local activities, including bake sales.
Key Events During The Campaign Include:
- Turning Cheltenham Orange: Wear or display orange in solidarity on 25 November and be sure to tag your photos with the hashtag #NoExcuseChelt, for our campaign against gender-based violence.
- Exploitation training for parents and the community: Hosted by St Giles Trust, this training will take place on 28 November in the Council Chambers. Sign up with this link.
- Exploitation training for professionals: Also presented by St Giles Trust, this session will be held on 29 November in the Council Chambers. This session will host discussions between with justice systems, social care, schools, and more. Sign up with this link.
- Reclaim the Night walk: Join Gloucestershire Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) on 29 November as the community ‘reclaims the night’ to campaign for safer streets for women and girls. Find the link to the flyer here.
- ‘In Their Own Words’ presentation: On 6 December, young women from Cheltenham will share their experiences and insights in a presentation at the Council Chambers. This is an invite-only event.
- Creative art project: In collaboration with Pittville School, a creative art project focussing on the theme of #NoExcuse. It is hoped the pieces will be exhibited in the Council Chamber from 16 December.
Cllr Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: “16 days of Action is an essential collaboration across organisations in Cheltenham striving for better protections of women. It is a small timescale compared to the everyday struggles of women and girls in the UK undergoing gender-based violence. We must continue to work together with businesses, the police, and residents alike to ensure that safety is a basic right for everyone in Cheltenham.”
Claire Hughes, director of governance and customer service at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “We are proud to continue to hold Purple Flag status in Cheltenham, and since 2016 we have annually recorded how people feel at our night time venues, giving us direct insight into what improvements we can continue to make to keep people safe. 16 Days is a campaign that seeks to raise awareness and influence change in our town, and as a council we will continue to work closely with local businesses and partners to ensure that all cases of gender-based violence are heard.”
Rachel Hole, service and training manager at Gloucestershire Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) said: “The Reclaim the Night movement started in the 1970’s when women were advised to stay at home to stay safe at night, essentially placing a curfew on women rather than challenging the culture and stopping perpetrators of gender-based violence. Almost 50 years later, we march each year to reclaim public spaces, stand up against male violence against women and girls, and demand safer streets for everyone.
“GRASAC are here to provide specialist support to people of all ages, genders and backgrounds who have experienced sexual violence. Reclaim the Night is part of our work to eradicate all sexual violence from our society.”
Cheltenham Borough Council is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all, and this campaign marks an essential step in addressing and reducing violence against women and girls in our community.
