We are making plans for an exciting new project which will look at the way violence against women and girls has shaped local history, the things that have not changed much and the phenomenal achievements of local women who have often been left out of the dominant narrative. Further details soon.
In November 2014 I was part of an multi platform exhibition in Deptford Lounge which looked at community responses to the issue of violence against women and girls. I helped curate the exhibition, ‘the Naming of the Dead’, as part of a local group, and created the multimedia piece above as a reminder of the exhibition. Women against violence expressing solidarity. The piece is of the shoes that were the main feature of the exhibition, local musician Lucy Cait singing and feminist activist, Heather Harvey, reading ‘A letter to my father’.
On 25 November 1960 the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican republic who were murdered by henchmen of the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship. We marked the 16 Days of activism on violence against women and girls by remembering the sisters, known as the purple butterflies.
With support from the local library service and Albany Theatre we set out shoes in Deptford Lounge; one pair to symbolise each woman who has died in the UK during 2014 as a result of male violence.
#HeForShe
With lots of interest and discussions from passers by we also highlighted the male allies who have spoken out about men’s violence as part of the audioboo channel we have been featuring this week. This has had more than 1,000 unique visits.
Local comedian Del Strain is one of the men who has spoken out as part of our #HeForShe audioboo project
Community organising
Thanks to the local library service the recommended books were being read and borrowed.
Celebrating survival
We also had music and poetry including local artist, Lucy Cait.
Join us in Deptford Lounge between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 29th November 2014.
25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is recognised as the day that the Mirabal sisters were brutally murdered and, across the world, communities unite in activism to tackle the broader social issues as well as individual instances.
The Naming of the Dead
Currently in the UK more than two women a week are killed due to male violence. The Counting Dead Women Project is campaigning to have this recognised as part of a broader problem of male violence against women and girls.
With donations of shoes from local people and community groups we have set up a display of shoes in Deptford Lounge; one pair per woman killed this year. This will be displayed on Saturday 29 November 2014 from 10am to 4pm. We want it to be a stark visual reminder of the enormity of the problem and a catalyst to get local people talking about what the broader solutions are.
Building community solidarity
But we also want to support local people to discuss how best to solve the problems of violence against women and girls. All week we have been sharing the voices of local men talking candidly about their views on how best men can act as allies in challenging other men who think violence is acceptable.
Educating ourselves
With support from library staff we have collected some books that we hope will contribute to broader public education on the issues.
Poetry and performances
From 2.30 pm local artists and performers will be sharing artistic works on the topic of violence against women and girls and celebrating the many who survive violence as well as mourning those who have not.
Join us on 29 November at Deptford Lounge!
We are holding a day of free activities at the Deptford Lounge on 29 November from 10am to 5pm – including speakers and performers from 2.30pm.
The naming of the dead
122 women have been killed through suspected male violence this year. That’s one woman dead every 2.49 days. At “The naming of the dead” exhibition one pair of shoes will represent each woman who has been killed by suspected male violence this year.
As Karen Ingala Smith states on her #countingdeadwomen blog male violence against women is connected. It’s systemic. It’s symptomatic of a wider problem. Until we start to openly acknowledge and talk about it, it won’t stop.
This exhibition is a startling visual reminder of the number of women who fell victim to male violence – often by someone they knew or loved.
Performers in support of women
We are very excited to have local women including a spoken word poet, and singer-songwriter Lucy Cait who will be performing with other presenters from 2.30pm.
The voices of male allies and library display
For those who cannot attend the events on 29 November, the interviews with male allies and a display of library books celebrating the lives and talents of women will be available at the Deptford Lounge from 22 November.
Men from Lewisham speak out in support of ending men’s violence towards women and girls
A number of local men, including Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock, have come together to take a stand against violence against women and girls.
In a series of audio recordings by WAVES Lewisham called “The Voices of Male Allies” men talk about what they know about violence against women and girls what they would do if they knew a man who was being violent or abusive towards his partner, girlfriend or wife.
In the first interview to be released, Sir Steve Bullock said there is no evidence of the large-scale sexual exploitation of girls that happened in Rotherham happening in Lewisham. However, he felt that if he assumed the sexual exploitation of children and young people was not happening within the Borough he would be failing victims. He stated he would like people in Lewisham to be vigilant and for professionals to learn from the experiences of others. He also stressed that the struggle for women’s equality was undermined by ‘half the population’ facing or at risk of violence.
Interviewee Lamar Hurley, founder of local youth magazine @platform1st has supported a woman who has been raped by being a shoulder to cry on. He has seen sexist behaviour on the football pitch, while coaching young people, and believes that women should be equal and not be discriminated against.
Detective Inspector Justin Davies from Lewisham CID explained that violence against women and girls covers more than domestic violence, citing rape and female genital mutilation as other examples. He also assured any women who may be experiencing violence that the police would listen and take them seriously.
Street League’s Peter Dacres pointed out that violence against women and girls is an infringement of their rights and contributes to their inequality. He has confronted young men who have been abusive towards young women and actively encourages girls and young women to participate in football.
Nigel Desborough, a leader at Forest Hill Community Church, has helped women to leave violent men and believes Churches have a safeguarding responsibility. Nigel explained the Bible, particularly older scriptures, can be misinterpreted to reinforce the maltreatment of women. However, he states that is not what the Bible teaches and, when translated in a more healthy way, the bible supports equality between the sexes.
The audio recordings will form Lewisham’s response to the #HeForShe campaign led by actress Emma Watson. They will also be played at the Deptford Lounge from 22 November to 29 November. WAVES Lewisham is also holding a day of activity at the Deptford Lounge on 29 November to raise awareness of the UN Women International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls.
Kirsty Lowe, Co-Founder of Women Against Violence Expressing Solidarity (WAVES) Lewisham said: “Men can be uncomfortable talking about the violence and abuse of women, sometimes feeling they are being accused or held personally responsible for the actions of other men.
“WAVES has many male supporters and we wanted to capture them talking about men’s violence to show leadership in making the world a safer place for women and girls. We’d like more men and women to participate in the #BigLewishamConversation on twitter and in real life to explore how, as a community, we can work together to bring an end to violence against women and girls.”
Men’s violence against women and girls is a problem that affects everyone.
Many men are not perpetrators but are not comfortable challenging other men on the subject.
In this series of candid interviews local men talk about their experiences and knowledge of men’s violence towards women and commit to challenging violent and abusive behaviour when they are of it.
These interviews will be played on @WAVES_Lewisham audioboom channel and at the @deptfordlounge as part of #VAWG awareness raising within #Lewisham from 22 November 2014
Women against violence expressing solidarity 