As a University community, we’re proud to once again be supporting the annual 16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence campaign. This global campaign runs from International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November) to International Human Rights Day (10 December) each year.
There are a range of activities taking place across the 16 days – see below for more details.
The Students’ Union are also taking part in 16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence and students can find out what they have planned at https://www.uwsunion.org.uk/advice/gbv/
Wednesday 25th November 2020
Launch day of 16 Days of Action
Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and with this starts the campaign of 16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence campaign.
We are promoting the ‘It’s time for change’ awareness raising animation from Scottish charity, Zero Tolerance. You can view the animation here.
UWS staff training
We continually offer UWS staff the opportunity to undertake training to understand the nature and impact of gender based violence. This might be a good time to look at this training available here.
Thursday 26th November 2020
Today is a great time to have a look at our UWS webpage on gender based violence to find out about the support available on and off campus. Knowing where to find support can be the first step for many on the journey to empower yourself and the people around you to fight gender based violence. Visit our webpage at https://www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/supporting-your-health-wellbeing/consent-gender-based-violence/
Friday 27th November 2020
White Ribbon Campaign
Over the 16 days of action we are promoting the White Ribbon Campaign for ending violence against women. We want to encourage men within our community to show their support for taking the White Ribbon pledge “never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms”.
A groups of 16 staff and students from UWS have taken the pledge as part of our campaign and they aim to encourage others to do so. The first 8 of individuals will feature in UWS and Student Union social media activity today. You can access the Student Union Facebook account here.
You can find out more about White Ribbon Scotland and take the pledge here.
Edinburgh Rape Crisis event
Two workers from the Prevention Team at Edinburgh Rape Crisis are taking part on The Consent Collective’s special fundraising edition of their gameshow ‘How to be good in bed’ with the Survivor’s Network, about consent, sex and relationships. Joint them today at 7pm via www.consentcollective.com/live
Saturday 28th November 2020
Today we begin to promote our Erase the Grey awareness raising campaign.
You can also view a blog post from the Women’s liberation group. The link to this blog will appear here shortly.
Sunday 29th November 2020
Today, we celebrate International Women Human Rights Defender(WHRD) Day. This day aims to recognise women human right defenders, who are activists advocating for the realisation of all human rights for all people. It is a day to commemorate activism, advocacy and courageous acts of resistance. The campaign wants to highlight that WHRD and all activists that are defending women’s rights face specific violations as a result of their advocacy or their gender. If you have time today, why don’t you do some research on WHRD and find out about their work or share with other people the work and activism you yourself have undertaken as a WHRD or in defending women’s rights.
Monday 30th November 2020
Today we are encouraging our students and staff to include resources for support around gender based violence in their email signatures. You can simply add the text below to raise awareness of the support available.
For more information and advice in relation to gender-based violence click here.
Tuesday 1st December 2020
Today you can explore the intersectional dynamics that influence experiences of abuse in this workshop hosted by Dundee Women’s Aid, running between 2pm and 3pm:
“BME LGBT+ Experiences of Domestic Abuse”
To register for this event click here.
Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Today the UWS Wellbeing Service are delivering a reflective workshop for students to explore what shapes how they think about relationships; work on increasing an understanding of healthy relationships and unhealthy and abusive relationships; and explore avenues of support.
‘Exploring Relationships’ runs from 12 noon until 2pm and you can register here.
Thursday 3rd December
The Rosey Project website launch
Today, we invite students and staff to join the launch event for the The Rosey Project website. The Rosey Project is a sexual violence support and prevention programme, run by Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis, for young people aged 13 to 25.
The event will include an explanation of the resource, how it was developed and a digital tour with Rosey Project Team Leader Paula Manners, speeches by Councillor Kim Long and Jill Wilson from NHSGGC and an interview with young survivors of sexual violence about what they contributed to the website, and what it means to them.
‘Porn Addiction in the Muslim Community’ Facebook Live event
Amina Muslim Women Resource Centre is organising an event on ‘Porn Addiction in the Muslim Community’ from 7pm. They are inviting you to join Shaykh Hassan Rabbani for a discussion with Alywas Karmani and Linzi Dear exploring the effects of pornography on individuals, marriage, family and community. The Facebook Live event can be found here.
Please contact info@mwrc.org.uk for more information.
Friday 4th December 2020
Join Dundee Women’s Aid today for their interactive workshop on gender based violence: ‘Whose issue is it?’
This workshop, which is running from 10am – 2:30pm, explores what domestic abuse is, as well as the issues faced by Black and minority ethnic groups, why it happens and how it affects our society. There will be an exploration on what to do when somebody discloses experiencing domestic abuse and what we can do to build a future free of domestic abuse.
You can register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/domestic-abuse-whose-issue-is-it-registration-123662607187?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch
Saturday 5th December 2020
White Ribbon Campaign
Over the 16 days of action we are promoting the White Ribbon Campaign for ending violence against women. We want to encourage men within our community to show their support for taking the White Ribbon pledge “never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms”.
A groups of 16 staff and students from UWS have taken the pledge as part of our campaign and they aim to encourage others to do so. The second group 8 of individuals will feature in UWS and Student Union social media activity today. You can access the Student Union Facebook account here.
You can find out more about White Ribbon Scotland and take the pledge here.
Sunday 6th December 2020
Today we are promoting a blog on gender based violence from the Chief Executive of the UWS Students’ Union, Sinéad Daly.
The link to Sinéad’s blog will appear here shortly.
Monday 7th December 2020
Today we are promoting gender-based violence training for our students and staff.
Student training
Understanding what gender-based violence can look like in our society is not always a straightforward task. If you want to get a grasp of what gender based violence is, the different nuances it can take, learn what domestic abuse and unhealthy relationship dynamics can look like and explore consent, then have a look at this engaging online resource put together by Rape Crisis Scotland.
Students can access the training here.
Staff training
Experiencing or recovering from gender-based violence can have a detrimental impact on a person’s ability to work or study. Colleges and universities can be a vital source of safety and support for students and staff affected by GBV both on and off campus and everyone has a role to play in that.
This one hour interactive course is designed especially for those who work in a front-facing role with students or staff in a support or advisory role. Staff training can be accessed here.
Tuesday 8th December 2020
Join Dundee Women’s Aid today for a workshop from 3:30pm to 5pm where they will look at how gender based violence can be experienced by young people.
To learn more about dangerous dynamics in relationships for young people, sign up here.
Wednesday 9th December 2020
Today, as part of their 16 days campaign you can join Shakti Women’s Aid for an exploration on ‘Feminism, the BME perspective’ from 11am to 1.30pm.
In order to reserve a place, email admin@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk or call 01314752399.
Thursday 10th December 2020
Student and staff gender based violence information session
Today UWS Student Services and The Students’ Union are hosting an information event for staff and students from 10am-11am.
Join us for a multidisciplinary exploration of the mechanisms that UWS offers to support students when they are experiencing gender-based violence.
Muslim faith leaders Facebook Live discussion
Join a Facebook Live discussion between Shaykh Hassan, from Glasgow, and Imam Khalif Latif, from New York, to discuss the role faith leaders in the Muslim Community can play in ending violence against women.
This will be a Facebook Live event starting at 7pm and can be found here.
Please contact info@mwrc.org.uk for more information.
