Orange the World is a UN initiative to end violence against women and girls, highlighted by 16 days of activism every year 25 November to 11 December.
What is 'Orange the World'?
The UNiTE campaign has proclaimed the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls.
Orange Day calls upon activists, governments, and UN partners to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, but every month.
On the 25th day of every month, UNiTE mobilizes people around the world to support the #OrangeDay initiative. It calls on people everywhere to wear the colour orange and take action to end violence against women and girls in communities, at home, in public spaces, in schools and workplaces, during conflict and in times of peace.
What are Salisbury Soroptimists doing about it?
2023
This year we are worked on ‘Lighting up the city’ during the 16 days of activism. We managed to get the Arts Centre, the Clock Tower and the Chapel nightclub to bathe their buildings in orange lights.
The Yarn bombers of the city made some wonderful postbox toppers (see tiktok video here ) which were a great success. They also contributed orange flower garlands which we used to decorate our Christmas Tree in the St Thomas’s tree festival.
The Mothers’ Union, Diocese of Salisbury helped us by creating displays in shops and offices under the banner ‘Souls of our shoes’ with quotes from survivors of domestic abuse. These displays stopped many passers by.
The library has loaned us a display space along Market Walk which also displayed facts and figures about domestic abuse.
On 26 November we were in the Market Square with a stall.
On 29 November we supported a Schools’ Forum at Godophin School which highlighted the dangers of online pornography and discussions about consent and healthy relationships. Reported in the Salisbury Journal.
On 29 November a special film screening at St John’s Place, Lower Road, Lower Bemerton of ‘Women at War’ an Icelandic comedy successfully raised over £500 for the Women’s Refuge.
Members wore orange to our November meeting.
Christmas Tree Festival at St Thomas’ Church 5-10th December
The Yarn bombers provided long ribbons with orange crocheted flowers to help decorate our tree. Members made decorations at our November meeting. We also used statistics about domestic abuse with QR codes to our resources page.
The Mother’s Union added their shoe boxes, part of ‘Souls of our shoes’ campaign.
Our tree really stood out in the Lady’s Chapel!
What can I do?
Make yourself aware of the signs of domestic abuse here.
Talk to friends and colleagues about the issue and ask them to think about the signs of abuse.
Ask your boss if your business can do something to make others aware: in house training? workshops? and orange display? join our campaign 25 November – 11 December?
Resources for employers and individuals: here
Email us at otwsalisburysoropts@gmail.com
Need advice?
If you, or anyone you know, has, or is suffering from domestic abuse please contact a relevant organisation – some suggestions here.
What have we done in the past?
In 2020, Club members had planned to march through Salisbury to mark the 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women and to ‘Orange the World’ to raise awareness. The project team had been working hard, all the permissions had been granted and detailed plans had been put in place…… it was not to be!
The public health restrictions around Covid19 prevented this going ahead. Instead on Sunday 6 December, members hosted a stall in the Market Square as part of the Sunday Market, to promote our campaign against domestic abuse and violence against women.
On display was the Club’s ‘Orange the World’ Christmas Tree which appeared as part of the St Thomas’s Virtual Christmas Tree Festival 1-15 December.
Several project team members, wearing orange, met with interested visitors and handed out literature and goodies. Generous donations totalling £50 were collected and these funds were given to Salisbury Women’s Refuge
December 2022 we found ourselves once again in the Market Square to promote ‘Orange the World’, this time in conjunction with the Mother’s Union. We distributed balloons and engaged with passing market goers.
