Soroptimists from Winchester and Solent East clubs are lighting up the Spinnaker Tower on Monday 28 November to create awareness of the campaign to end Domestic Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Winchester Guildhall is also lighting up the clock face orange in the tower from 25 -28 November. 
Soroptimist International Orange the World campaign runs from 25 November and includes 16 days of Activism. It ends on 10 December, which is the UN Human Rights Day. 25 November is also White Ribbon Day which is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. This day has been officially adopted by the United Nations as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Dame Vera Baird, former Victims’ Commissioner with whom we have worked closely on Domestic Abuse courts said, ‘Great that The wonderful Soroptimists support this campaign and raise awareness of domestic abuse against women and girls. With education for boys and girls and a wider understanding of how this affects lives today, there is much to be done to change attitudes’.
Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North and Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee said, ‘I am so pleased to see the campaign by Soroptimists International to “Orange the World” and highlight the dreadful toll of violence against women and girls. This November the 25th we will come together to mark White Ribbon Day, and continue the work to stamp out gendered violence. It is great to see local Soroptimists so involved and the Spinnaker Tower turning orange.”
Penny Mordaunt MP for North Portsmouth and Leader of the House of Commons said, ‘Raising awareness is vital to get messages out to people, enabling them not only to know how they can get help, but to also recognise VAWG, which for some has become normalised. I hope the lighting up of our iconic landmarks will help achieve that aim. My thanks to all involved.’
SI Winchester is taking a stall at the Winchester Christmas Fair on the first day of the campaign on 25 November. Members will be wearing orange and giving out information as well as selling items for charity.
It is also an opportunity to introduce visitors to the Soroptimist organisation and talk more about the work to transform the lives of women and girls, through Education, Empowerment and Enablement. Members are available for interview on 25 November at the Winchester Fair.
Further awareness of the subject is also raised by focussing on a different aspect of this on the 25th of every month as domestic Abuse takes many forms. It is not just physical. Coercion, controlling behaviour and online communications form many of today’s abusive issues along with FGM, trafficking, spiking, stalking and enforced marriage.
SI Winchester supports the Women’s Refuge, the Winchester Beacon and the Trinity Centre and Two Saints in Southampton. SI Solent East local projects include Women in Prison and Contact the Elderly. Both clubs took part in a domestic abuse court observation project over the summer to establish how the court process works in these cases. A final report will be published later this year.
Soroptimist International is a global women’s organisation and members will be holding orange events all over the world. The organisation has consultative status at the United Nations and supports many of the international events relating to UN Women and special days. The work that members do in their clubs both locally and internationally, is reported to the UN which uses the data to help form a picture of world situations where resources are required.
If you are interested in finding out more or considering membership, please contact winchestersoroptimists@gmail.com