Haven Society, with key community partners, is creating awareness about gender violence with a goal to moving the community to take action on violence against women
Violence silences! Nanaimo Speaks Out!
Being in a relationship does not give anyone the right to be violent or abusive.
Yet domestic violence happens in all types of relationships: dating, common law, and marriage. [image: istockphoto]
Haven Society, along with its community partners — Nanaimo Women’s Resource Centre, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Family Life Association, Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Nanaimo, Zonta Club of Nanaimo, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island — has issued a call to action to help end silence about gender violence by speaking out, donating, or giving your time.
The group will create awareness through an interactive visual art project and establish an annual grassroots campaign which can develop over the years, moving the Nanaimo community to action on Violence Against Women.
Many people are afraid to speak out about domestic violence, and Haven Society wants to change that. Domestic violence still remains hidden behind closed doors – but now is the time to air our “dirty laundry.” By making it public, it’s easier to talk about and get help. You can help end the silence by speaking out. #NanaimoSpeaksOut
The Clothesline Project
The Clothesline Project originated in Cape Cod, MA in 1990 (and it has since been adopted elsewhere)
to address the issue of violence against women. [image: clotheslineproject.org]
Haven’s awareness campaign, called The Clothesline Project after a similar project originating in Cape Cod, MA, will be part of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence which starts November 25 and runs to December 10. It will also mark December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
Haven Society is asking participants to hang clotheslines along fences, along buildings or in trees, adding articles of clothing with messages about violence against women and/or answering phrases such as “Violence is…”, “I speak out on violence against women because…”, “Violence against women matters because…”.
Violence Silences. #nanaimospeaksout Clothesline Project, starts today @HavenSociety @ShawTV_CVI #16days pic.twitter.com/rSwGdzh5ht
— Kait Burgan (@Kait_Burgan) November 25, 2015
The key message — Violence Silences! Nanaimo Speaks Out! — can be centrally displayed on a sheet or large banner on every clothesline (fluorescent markers can be used for message to stand out in dark). The clotheslines and first messages will be hung on Wednesday November 25, 2015 — the first day of the 16 days of activism. Add articles of clothing daily with additional personal messages related to the campaign. The Clothesline Project will be taken down after December 10, 2015 (the last day of 16 days of Activism which is Human Rights Day).
Use of social media
#NanaimoSpeaksOut @HavenSociety during @16DaysCampaign against gender violence #Nanaimo https://t.co/F5jViVLgfW pic.twitter.com/Kf0PDhcb0W
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) November 24, 2015
A Facebook event page called Nanaimo Speaks Out! is available online. The Twitter hashtag #NanaimoSpeaksOut will also be in use during the campaign. Partnering organizations will share information on their websites — like we’re doing here at Vancouver Island Mental Health Society through this People First Radio post.
We speak with Anne Taylor, executive director of Haven Society.
657_anne taylor_clothesline project_16 days_november_26_2015_40
Left-click to listen; right-click to save.
audio | @HavenSociety #NanaimoSpeaksOut #16Days #Nanaimo #VancouverIsland @CHLYRadio https://t.co/EkuXuNuuje pic.twitter.com/QXcOsduwA1
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) November 27, 2015
Nanaimo-based Haven Society is a nonprofit charitable organization providing emergency shelter, emotional support, counselling and advocacy for women, children and families in the mid-Vancouver Island region.
