Women’s Aid in Newtownabbey held a special event recently to mark the official unveiling of an impressive new piece of art completed by a group of local women as part of the White Ribbon Campaign.
Various agencies and individuals from the local community attended including Guest speaker Inspector Gourley, Pam Cameron MLA, Alderman Robinson, Grace McGurk and Ase McWilliams of Women’s Aid and Deputy Mayor Alderman McCudden who presented the Art Project.
The Art Project titled “Step By Step, Day By Day” was created by women using the services of Women’s Aid which involved decorating a shoe on a blank board with from the past experiences, current circumstances or hopes, dreams and aspirations for the future.
The 16 decorated shoes represent the 16 Days of Activation during the annual White Ribbon Campaign which runs between 25th November – International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women to 10th December – International Human Rights Day. By wearing a white ribbon we make the statement: ‘never to commit, condone or stay silent about violence against women’.
Last year Women’s Aid in Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey supported over 1,200 women. However, considering the statistic that one in four women suffer abuse in their relationships we know that so many continue to suffer in silence. The White Ribbon Campaign is about breaking that silence, for us all to take responsibility in not allowing abuse behind closed doors to continue; and to challenge people’s prejudices and the actions of perpetrators.