Two Local Charities have arranged to turn the Millennium Bridge Orange on the evening of the 24th
November 2021 to mark the beginning of #orangetheworld and 16 days of activism against gender
based violence.
Streetwise Young People’s Project have joined forces with Newcastle Soroptimists to raise awareness
and stand together to call out the unacceptable level of violence targeted and women and girls.
The 16 days of Activism against violence against women and girls is an international campaign that
takes place each year. It commences on the 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence against Women, until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
We are lighting up our own Millennium Bridge Orange because we have had enough, and something
needs to change. That change cannot be placed on the victims, it needs to sit with everyone, where
we stand together to change harmful social norms, educate our boys and men on positive masculinity,
respectful relationships, and non-violent behaviour. We need to critically examine gender roles,
regimes and practices, stop stereotyping and victim blaming and emphasise the fact that everyone in
society has an important role to play in ending violence against women and girls.
The Millennium Bridge will be lit up in the colour orange because orange is used to represent a
brighter future, free from violence against women and girls, and has been a unifying theme through
all the global activities of the UNiTE #orangethework Campaign.
According to the latest estimates, nearly 1 in 3 women aged 15 years and older, around the world
have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner, or both, at
least once in their lifetime, indicating that the levels of Violence Against Women and Girls have
remained largely unchanged over the last decade (1).
Representatives from Streetwise and Newcastle Soroptimists will be down on the Quayside from
3.30pm on the evening of the 24th November 2021, please join them. Hundreds of flags, orange masks
and florescent bracelets will be handed out to all those who take part and share in this silent protest.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Violence against women and
girls is not something we take lightly in the North East. Far from it. And I’m proud of that. Lighting up
the Millennium Bridge is about solidarity and throwing this important issue into the spotlight.
Anything to tackle the issue and get people talking is a good thing and I thank everyone, men and
women, who have made this happen and who are pushing the message that domestic abuse will not
be tolerated.”
Christine Tomkins, President of SINUT comments.
“When we stand together on the Millennium Bridge which is bathed in orange light, we remember
Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard and all the other women and girls who have suffered horrendous
violence, harm and death.
Our communities must unite to work together to change attitudes, to ensure women and girls can
live in a safe, secure and happy environment. Women and girls must not feel they are victims”.
Mandy Coppin, Chief Executive Officer at Streetwise said:
“It just feels like we are surrounding by horrific news where girls and women have been subject to the
most unspeakable violence and harm. Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard’s murders and the deaths of
77 women since they were killed show why we must change a culture that sees male violence as
largely unchallenged”.
(1) World Health Organisation, on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against
Women and Data (VAW-IAWGED), Violence against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018 (Geneva, 2021).