Guernsey is getting involved once again through the work of women’s advocacy group the Soroptimists, who have been involved since the campaign’s beginning in 2008.
Each year the campaign raises awareness over a 16-day period, principally by flooding environments with the ‘bright and optimistic’ colour orange to raise awareness of the issue, ending on Human Rights Day on 10 December.
It is widely acknowledged that abuse can exist in many forms – physical, sexual, emotional or financial to name a few – and this year the spotlight is on the digital face of abuse.
Local statistics alone are shocking. Bailiwick domestic abuse charity Safer said that one in five children were living with an adult perpetuating domestic abuse, and last year police were called to 701 domestic abuse incident.
The UN calls digital abuse ‘one of the fastest-growing forms of gender-based violence’. It estimates up to 90% of deepfake videos online are sexual images of women.
Cyberstalking, sextortion, violent pornography, doxxing and trolling are increasingly prevalent issues facing women and girls online. Digital abuse can also manifest as restricting or monitoring a woman’s access to shared devices, internet, or power sources.
Safer said that one in three women experience gender-based violence in their lifetime.
In 2023, 51,100 women and girls globally were intentionally killed by intimate partners or family members. That makes an average of 140 women per day, or one every 10 minutes. And more than a quarter of women aged 15 and up have experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner.
In conflict, crisis or humanitarian settings, up to 70% of women may experience gender-based violence.
Guernsey’s Soroptimists are doing their bit to raise awareness of these issues by developing their own programme of events for the island, including supporting an Inner Wheel awareness walk yesterday, Health Connections’ talking cafe today and an eye-catching display of orange shoes planned for the weekend.
‘We as Soroptimists feel the issue of gender-based violence needs to be acknowledged and discussed. In a small community such as ours, people can be reluctant to come forward. By signposting people to Safer, we are able to raise their profile and enable people to get the help and support they need,’ said Guernsey Soroptimists president Cathy Bailey.
Yesterday more than 30 women walked through Saumarez Park, bedecked in the campaign’s signature orange. The local branch of the Inner Wheel charity has become involved in the project for the first time this year and organised the event.
Member Jocelyn Dorey said that there was a higher prevalence of domestic abuse in Guernsey than many people thought.
‘I think a lot of people in Guernsey think it’s such a lovely place, that nothing ever happens here. There’s a lot more than what people suspect there is,’ she said.
‘Everybody here knows of somebody who has received some sort of abuse against them, no matter how subtle. So it’s important we do what we can. No violence is acceptable to anybody for anything.’
Also in attendance at the walk was honorary member of Inner Wheel, Lady Cripwell.
‘When I first started work 40 years ago, what was acceptable then to be said by your fellow workmates would not be tolerated today. So there is progress being made in that field. My husband was in the Army and he is aware of how it is. Using women in the wrong way is an act of war,’ she said.
Lady Cripwell is aware of the problems posed by the digital world to young people.
‘What they’re all watching is not great – certainly young men are watching too much porn. That is a scary thing, and I’m grateful now that our daughter is of an age where she can be a bit more discerning, I hope.’
In support of the campaign, Government House is being lit up in orange until Saturday.
Today’s event is a special Talking Cafe, run by Health Connections, in support of the campaign at Beau Sejour from 9.30am to 11.30am.
‘People are often very unaware of what help and support is available on the island. Our Talking Cafe’s strength is that we signpost people to all sorts of agencies, organisations and charities that can support people. It’s a safe space where everybody can come and chat,’ said organiser Jenny Benjamin.
Various leaflets and organisations will be present, including Soroptimists, Safer and the States family support services.
This Saturday, Soroptimists can be found displaying orange shoes on the Market Steps.
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