COFFEE cups around the Glenelg Shire have turned orange for December, serving as an important symbol against domestic violence.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the Glenelg Shire Council is circulating orange disposable coffee cups around, highlighting the importance of calling out disrespectful behaviour and attitudes that lead to domestic violence.

The cups, which convey the message ‘Respect Is …’, is based on the Respect Victoria’s theme for 2021 and will be available at selected cafes across the shire.

Community members are encouraged to take a photo with their coffee cup and share what “Respect Is..” for them via their social media channels.

Glenelg Shire mayor, Anita Rank said council was proud to support the important cause.

“Statistics show that one woman a week in Australia is murdered by a current or former partner,” Cr Rank said.

Alarmingly, one in three Australian women, that is one third of our female population, have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

“These statistics are abhorrent.

“These are friends, family members, colleagues, who are a number in these statistics and the trend must end.

“I encourage you to grab a coffee at your local café, take selfie and use the hashtags to tell everyone what ‘Respect Is … ’ for you.

“This could be calling out sexist jokes, allowing everyone to have their say or setting the right example in your workplace.

“Let’s help spread orange throughout our towns this November and December, as we collectively work towards a future free from gender-based violence.”

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicked off last Wednesday, 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until December 10 which is Human Rights Day.

Health services raising their voice

SOUTH-WEST Victorian health services are also joining forces to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women and children.

The region’s hospitals are taking part in the Clothesline Project as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence (SHRFV) project manager, Lauren Newman, is coordinating the Clothesline Project as the main local activity for the campaign.

SHRFV is a sub-regional project with South West Healthcare (SWH) as the lead organisation, joined by Heywood Rural Health, Portland District Health, Casterton Memorial Hospital, Moyne Health Services, Terang & Mortlake Health Service, Western District Health Service, Timboon District Health Service and the SWH Camperdown campus.

All health services will be publicly displaying clotheslines during the campaign, which will include colour-coded paper T-shirts and messages with the theme, # RESPECT IS … ‘Call it Out’

The Clothesline Project was started in 1990 by a group of women after hearing of the 51,000 women who had been killed by their male partners during the time of the Vietnam War.

This statistic encouraged the women to speak out and raise awareness to the issue of violence against women.

“The Clothesline Project demonstrates the solidarity of women,” Ms Newman said.

“Traditionally, doing the laundry was seen as ‘women’s work’. 

Many women were known to communicate with each other over the back fence whilst hanging out the washing.

“Often, it was the only way women could communicate with each other in their community.”

This project has since become a worldwide campaign which intends to honour survivors and act as a memorial for victims. Endorsed by the United Nations, The Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, the international campaign focuses on women’s rights at a local, regional and international level.

The 16 Days of Activism campaign is used as a prevention and awareness strategy to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Ms Newman, who is based at South West Healthcare, said the campaign closely aligned with the SHRFV project and created awareness around family violence being a serious health issue.

“This year we have to be COVIDSafe so we have limitations with involving the community, but healthcare staff are being encouraged to contribute their messages to raise awareness about violence against women and children,” she said.

South West Healthcare will also promote daily messages on social media.

Domestic Violence Victoria has assisted with some of the funding for the initiative.

If you are experiencing family violence, concerned for your safety, or in an emergency situation, please call 000 for urgent police assistance.