"Take heed, avoid disregarding this message!"
In the city of Düsseldorf, an online event titled "Anna speaks..." is set to take place, marking a significant step in the fight against gender-based violence. The event, originally planned for the central library, has been moved online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The event is a collaboration between women's support facilities and the central library, and it serves as a literary representation of a fictional women's biography. Dr. Stephan Keller, the city's mayor, will deliver a greeting, followed by an introduction by Elisabeth Wilfart, the equal opportunities officer of the city.
The "Every 3rd Woman" campaign, a powerful awareness initiative in Germany, forms the backbone of this event. This campaign, based on the nationwide helpline "Violence against Women," aims to highlight the alarming statistic that approximately one in three women in the country experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Elisabeth Wilfart, in her role as equal opportunities officer, has also carried out a photo action to visualize the number of women affected by physical and/or sexualized violence. Every third seat was marked with a silhouette in the photos, symbolizing the staggering statistic. The photos, taken in various locations such as a tram, an ice rink, and the lower house of the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus, will be published on the Facebook page of the Equal Opportunities Office on November 25th.
In addition, action flags of the nationwide helpline "Violence against Women" will be hoisted at various municipal buildings, including the town hall, town hall Benrath, and town hall Kaiserswerth. The telephone number of the helpline, available as a free, confidential counseling service in 17 languages since 2013, will be printed on the flags.
Elisabeth Wilfart emphasizes the importance of vigilance in the current situation regarding domestic or familial and sexualized violence. She encourages solidarity and urges that noises from neighboring apartments that might indicate violence should not be ignored. Family doctors were sensitized to the topic of "domestic violence" through an information letter in the spring.
A video contribution has also been created for the action and will be published on the Facebook page of the city of Düsseldorf on November 25th. Interested parties can find more information about the event at www.frauenberatungsstelle.de.
Through events like "Anna speaks..." and initiatives like the "Every 3rd Woman" campaign, the city of Düsseldorf continues to play a significant role in increasing visibility of gender-based violence, fostering public dialogue, and pushing for better protection measures and support systems for women affected by violence.
The "Anna speaks..." event in Düsseldorf, initially planned for the central library, will now take place online, focusing on women's health, mental health, and sexual health, as part of the "Every 3rd Woman" campaign. This campaign, a powerful awareness initiative in Germany, aims to shed light on the shocking statistic that one in three women in the country faces physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. Additionally, the City's Equal Opportunities Officer, Elisabeth Wilfart, has coordinated a photo action to visually represent the number of women affected by such violence. These photos will be released on November 25th, symbolizing the ongoing fight against gender-based violence and the city's commitment to women's health and wellness.
