More than 200 S3 pupils helped launch East Dunbartonshire Council’s 16 Days of Action Against Gender Based Violence Campaign at a special assembly in Bearsden Academy last week (Friday).
The international campaign runs from 25 November until 10 December and is being promoted locally by Empowered* - the name for the East Dunbartonshire Multi Agency Partnership for Violence Against Women and Girls.
Provost Una Walker opened the special assembly which brought together a range of inspirational speakers from organisations such as LGBT Scotland, Rape Crisis, Mentors in Violence Prevention, the CEDAR Project and the University of Glasgow.
She said, “Every year the Council supports this campaign to raise awareness of gender based violence and it is appropriate that the launch was held in a school to get some very important messages over to young people.”
Pupils learned about the historical conditions which left women and children more vulnerable to different forms of violence. Presentations explored gender as a social construct and what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman today.
They reinforced the importance of talking about gender based violence as being more than physical violence, and understanding it as a function of gender inequality. Michael Hail from Mentors in Violence Prevention spoke about the challenges for young people and adults to stand up and speak out about attitudes and behaviour linked to abusive relationships.
All speakers conveyed the message that everyone has a responsibility to end gender based violence together, as individuals of all generations, religions, occupations and sexual orientations. They encouraged more open and honest discussions about gender based violence.
Scott Mackillop, an S3 pupil at Bearsden Academy, said, “It was interesting hearing opinions from others and how passionate they were. Some of the presentations were a bit information heavy, but I found it very interesting and appropriate".
Fellow pupil Darcy Kimmins, added, “"I enjoyed the balloon activity, it was fun and got the message across"
Domestic abuse is one form of gender based violence which was explored in depth during the event. World Health Organisation statistics show that one in five women will experience domestic abuse at some time in their life and more women are killed as a result of male violence than by car accidents, cancer, malaria and war combined.
Speaking at the launch and summing up the powerful message behind the campaign, Provost Walker said, “Gender based violence has no place in a safe, strong, successful Scotland. It damages health and wellbeing, limits freedom and potential, and is a violation of the most fundamental human rights.”
For further information on the work of the speakers check out:
- LGBT Scotland - lgbtyouth.org.uk/VoicesUnheard
- CEDAR Project - edamh.org.uk/index.php?id=2&pid=49
- Rape Crisis Glasgow - https://www.rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk/
- White Ribbon Campaign - http://www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk/
- Mentors in Violence Prevention - mvpscotland.org.uk
- University of Glasgow, Centre for Gender History - gla.ac.uk/schools/humanities/research/historyresearch/historyresearchcentres/centreforgenderhistory/
* Empowered brings together a number of agencies including the Council, Addaction Families+, Ceartas Advocacy, Carers Link, Citizens Advice Bureau, CEDAR Project, ED Women's Aid, ED Association for Mental Health, ED Youth Council, ED Health and Social Care Partnership, Low Moss Prison, Police Scotland, Rape Crisis Glasgow, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, Victim Support ED.
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