DFWAC organises 'Orange Campaign' to raise awareness of violence against women

The Dubai Foundation For Women and Children has launched an "Orange Campaign" to raise awareness of violence against women, under the slogan, "Speak Up! Silence Covers Violence", for the first time in the UAE, in conjunction with the United Nations international campaign to eliminate violence against women, which runs until this weekend.

The DFWAC campaign, launched yesterday and running for three days, is expected to attract a big crowd to its interactive platform which was designed in an innovative way to have a touching and emotional effect on the public about violence against women.

The platform presents a soundtrack of a woman telling her touching story of how she was exposed to violence and how she got her life back, to raise awareness about the types of violence taking place against women and stressing the necessity of contacting concerned entities for help on the helpline number, 800111, whether they were victims or they are in touch with the victims.

The story presents examples all types of violence against women, including verbal, physical, sexual and financial, and explains that the woman can decide to keep silent about the violence she is facing for the good of her family, but she finds out in the end that this was wrong and she should have faced the problem, instead of remaining silent.

In addition to the interactive platform, the campaign also includes brochures that include useful information and statistics about the different social, psychological and economical effects of violence against women on both the victims and society as a whole, in addition to carrying awareness messages via social using the hashtags #OrangeTheWorld and #SpeakUpAE.

Afra Al Basti, Director General of The Dubai Foundation For Women and Children, said that organising the campaign aims to raise awareness in UAE society about violence against women, and the importance of supporting international efforts in this area, especially the ones in which the UN is involved to empower and help women and children.

She added that there is no country in the world that is free of violence against women, but organising the campaign for the first time in the UAE doesn't mean that this has became a phenomena in its society, but is more within the framework of promoting efforts to support, protect and empower women in the UAE.

Al Basti thanked all the supporters of the campaign, especially the strategic partner, Human Rights Department in the Ministry of Interior, platinum sponsor, "The Walk", and sliver sponsor, Al Tamimi & Co, as well as all who participated in the event