As the Christmas lights are switched off and the crib is packed away for another year, we are turning the spotlight on the difficult issue of domestic violence, but more importantly, on what we can do together to make Ireland a safer place for women and children in 2021.
We have just spent the last few weeks celebrating Christmas. At the centre of our holiday is a mother and child. As a society, however, we are failing 1000s of women and children who live with coercive control and domestic abuse every day.
Christmas is a highly stressful time for those living with an abuser and new lockdown restrictions add to concerns that women and children may be further entrapped for an extended period of time. We know from our services that Christmas has been extremely busy already and they are now facing into a January dealing with the impact of the double crisis of the holiday and this new period of strict lockdown.
Woman and Child, the campaign has been made possible with funding from The Community Foundation for Ireland and Irish Women in Harmony.
Here are four simple but powerful things we can do to be more aware about coercive control and domestic abuse.
our powerful, 1 minute film.
We have partnered with award winning director Marion Bergin to make Ireland’s first short film ad about coercive control. Watch and share it.
about coercive control.
Coercive control is a crime. It is a persistent and deliberate pattern of behaviour by an abuser over a prolonged period of time designed to achieve obedience and fear. It does not have to be physical to be domestic abuse. Know the signs.
to help us protect more women and children.
In 2021, we hope to emerge from the pandemic. But, restrictions are again in place and may remain for some time. For most of us, this means staying at home and limiting our social contacts. For women and children living with an abuser, this means the dread and risk of more months of threats, stress, coercion, abuse and violence.
and advice.
If you or someone you care about is living with control and abuse in their home, staff in domestic abuse services across the country are highly trained and experienced. They will hear you and respond to your needs.
We believe we have a real chance to change the relentless cycle of violence and abuse this year. We made really significant strides in 2020 in raising public and political consciousness about the dangers for women and children trapped with abusers.
In 2021, we can do even more to transform how we all understand and respond to the scourge of domestic abuse.
Safe Ireland has partnered in this campaign with award-winning creatives Herstory and film director Marion Bergin. This a unique Christmas campaign because it launches on the last day of Christmas, Nollaig na mBán (Women’s Christmas).
The campaign features a powerful new first in Ireland – a 1 minute film advert that depicts the shrinking world of a woman and child living with control and abuse. The darkness of the film is complemented with a standout Herstory light show, illuminating landmark buildings like the GPO and Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin with images that celebrate the diversity, strength, autonomy and resilience of women in Ireland today. The light show features images from the award winning photographer Ellen McDermott, a dynamic new photographic series by photographer Myriam Riand and conceptual artist Áine O’Brien and the powerful new Safe Ireland advert created by Marion Bergin. You can see a selection of the images in our gallery here.
Safe Ireland believes that domestic violence can be prevented and exposed when all sectors of our society are talking about it and addressing it – creatives and artists, corporates and businesses, political and civil society. Then, Ireland will be safer for everyone.
If you are experiencing abuse, you are not alone. There is support available to you.
Domestic violence is everyone’s business. Get involved and help make Ireland the safest country in the world.
As part of our 5-year Strategic Plan we committed to hosting two International Summits on Domestic Violence in Ireland in 2016 and 2018.
Read our Publications here.
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