Violence against women - public awareness

Each year, on 8^th March we celebrate women and those who are working hard to highlight and address issues that are vitally important to women.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction. (Quote from www.internationalwomensday.com)

Within Fife we see this as an opportunity to think about ways we can keep pushing for gender equality. With this year’s theme - Accelerate Action –  we need your support to move faster towards a gender equal world.

You can watch a video about why we acknowledge International Women's Day.

What can you do?

• Be visible - Create a personalised card to share on your social media platforms that highlights why you support International Women's Day
• Learn more -
  • Read a book written by a female author or that highlights women’s issues. Here are some of our recommended reads
  • Complete our online quiz to test your knowledge and learn more
  • If you work or volunteer within Fife, then you can also access our wider training programme to learn more
• Tell someone - Tell a woman you know how much they inspire you – you can even download our certificate to present to someone special in your life
• Host your own event - If you think you could host an event within your group or organisation where women get together to talk and celebrate women, you can access planning tools and resources
• Attend a local event - We are pleased to be able to share news of upcoming events, hosted and supported by FVAWP partner organisations:

Phoenix Rising

This will be a performance created and performed by women with lived experience of domestic abuse. The name of the performance is  Phoenix Rising.
It will be held at 12 o’clock on Thursday 13th March at Rothes Halls. The doors will open at 11.30am (refreshments will be available).
Booking will be essential. Please email info@fifewomensaid.org.uk or call 01383 732 289 to reserve a place. Places will be limited so early booking is advised.
FWA Phoenix Rising leaflet.

Fife Centre for Equalities event

A friendly and free International Women’s Event will be held on Friday 07 March 2024 at St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy from 1pm until 4pm.
More information on the programme to follow.
In the meantime the registration for the event can be accessed on the FCE International Women's Day 2025! | FCE website.
As part of the event, FCE are collating information about local events being held to celebrate International Women’s Day. If you know of anything happening across Fife, please share the information with FCE by emailing info@centreforequalities.org.uk

Hag. Knowledge, Power & Alchemy Through Craft

We are also pleased to support the launch of a Fife Contemporary exhibition entitled Hag: Knowledge, Power & Alchemy Through Craft. The exhibition opens on Saturday 8th March 2025 in the Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries and runs until 8th June.
The exhibition is described as bringing together the work of 13 of Scotland’s most inventive, creative and impactful women craft artists.
It is curated by Dunfermline-born educator, curator and producer, Kate Pickering, and takes linguistic cues from historical, derogatory language about women, Hag. connects contemporary prejudices about age, sex and gender to their historical precedents.
There is also a Hag conversation event where you can enjoy two fantastic discussions: Curator Kate Pickering with Zoe Venditozzi, followed by Carol Sinclair with Susan Redman.

More information can be found on the FCAC webpage

There is also a conversation event where you can enjoy two fantastic discussions: Curator Kate Pickering with Zoe Venditozzi, followed by Carol Sinclair with Susan Redman. Click here for more information and tickets.

Information on other events hosted by OnFife are available here

This exhibition in partnership with OnFife follows on from the success of the previous installations held in Fife (St Andrews University in partnership with Got Consent?, and in partnership with Fife College at their main college campuses). FRASAC has also been an integral partner offering a confidential safe space area at each of the venues.

The installation challenges participants to engage with our universal connection with clothing and reflect on what gives this specific rape culture myth so much power. To put clothing on is so basic and common, to take that action and conflate it with pain and suffering taints not only the individual outfit for the survivor; but also, calls into question all simplistic and normal behaviours as dangerous.

The stories utilised were donated by survivors and are used with their consent

Clothing in the installation is not the actual clothing worn by the survivor, they are recreations of the stories that were donated.

The goal of the Installation is for participants to see themselves reflected in not only the outfits but also the stories. This realisation moves us away from blaming the victim for violence and places responsibility where it belongs, on those who caused harm.

The installation will be facilitated by experienced, trained staff throughout the entirety. Resources and signposting routes will also be supported by partner organisations who will be available at information stalls.

Please see our Exhibition Flyer for more details.

Each year, from 25^th November - 10^th December, Fife Violence Against Women Partnership (FVAWP) participate in the international campaign - 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

The campaign starts on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on Human Rights Day.

To mark the campaign, FVAWP pulled together a local programme of events and learning activities intended to raise awareness of violence against women, its causes and consequences. We hope this programme created an opportunity for us to come together as a partnership and as a community and enabled people to join us in asking for change, for an end to violence against women.

“The phrase violence against women and girls is used to describe violent and abusive behaviour directed at women and girls because they are women and girls. It is behaviour which is carried out predominantly by men. It is an abuse of power and stems from systemic, deep-rooted women’s inequality. VAWG limits women’s and girls’ freedom and potential and is a fundamental violation of human rights.”

Scotland’s Equally Safe Strategy

We have campaigns throughout the year, and over September our particular focus is on raising awareness of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Within the partnership, we are extremely grateful that the Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project (KASP) are lead supporter of this campaign.

They have written two recent blog posts which can be found here:

Raising Awareness of Childhood Sexual Abuse | Blog | KASP

Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim | Blog | KASP

KASP provide support to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, offering one to one counselling/support, group work, and advocacy to anyone over the age of 16. There is more information about the organisation and their work, as well as many resources, available on their website, their blog page or their Facebook page Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project - KASP

Please watch out for future blog posts over the next few weeks, and help us by sharing this information with your friends, family and colleagues.

When someone targets another person in a way that is repeated and unwanted – regardless of whether their actions are threatening or not – but where the intention or outcome is to cause distress, then they could be guilty of stalking.

Understanding stalking better is essential to challenging the stalker's behaviours and supporting victims.

During National Stalking Awareness Week, the Fife Violence Against Women Partnership (FVAWP) want to get people talking about stalking and build a wider understanding of how to identify stalking behaviour and how to report it.

• For more information about stalking please see our FVAWP Stalking Information Page
• If you are experiencing stalking, you can receive support from the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300
• To report any concerns about stalking to Police Scotland, call the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, always dial 999. You can also submit your information via an online form.

During Stalking Awareness week, FVAWP wants to highlight the following programme of events:

Monday 22nd April, 10:00am – 11:30am

FREE Training: Identifying and Working with Stalking Behaviours (Online Teams Workshop)

A short online workshop for staff and volunteers to learn more about stalking.

Join Social Work’s Justice Services colleagues for a discussion on how to improve knowledge and practice in working with those who display stalking behaviours and their victims.

Every Stalking case is different, however, very often perpetrators use similar tactics driven by comparable motives. The seminar aims to explore tactics, techniques and motives employed by many stalking perpetrators.

This course is suitable for anyone who might provide support to a client who is experiencing Stalking.

Fife Council staff can book a space through Oracle. All other participants can book a space using the online form.

Tuesday 23rd April, 10:00am – 1:00pm

Suzy Lampugh Trust National Conference 2024 “Join Forces Against Stalking”

Effective multi-agency working is crucial for ensuring victims of stalking are supported from their point of disclosure right through until a conviction and beyond. This year, the Suzy Lampugh Trust are calling for agencies across the police, CPS and healthcare to join forces, and work together to effectively support victims of stalking.

This conference will be showcasing examples of best practice and highlighting the important role multi-agency working has played for victims of stalking.

Online attendance - Cost £36 – Find more information and book your place here

Wednesday 24^th April, 10:00am – 1:00pm

FREE Fife Violence Against Women Partnership Stalking Awareness Online Information Session (Teams)

Open to staff, volunteers and members of the public, this session will raise awareness of stalking, the impact of stalking on victims and emphasise the local response to stalking in Fife.

Speakers:

• Karen Fullerton-Chalmers from Action Against Stalking
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Fife Women’s Aid
• Police Scotland, Fife Division

National Stalking Awareness Week Information Session Agenda

This session will be held online using Teams. Please email fvawp@fife.gov.uk to book your place and receive joining instructions.

Thursday 25^th April, 10:30am-1:00pm

Orange the World Café: Stalking Awareness

In-person at Morrisons supermarket cafe, The Esplanade, Kirkcaldy KY1 1SL

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.

For April’s “Orange Day”, staff, volunteers and members of the public are welcome to join Kirkcaldy Soroptimists and staff from the Fife Violence Against Women Partnership for a cuppa and a friendly chat, with stalking information available from their information stall.

For more information please contact Kirkcaldy Soroptimists via the contact form on their webpage or their Facebook page.

We hope you might be able to join one of these events and help us raise awareness about stalking.

If you would like more information about any of these events or about stalking awareness week, please email fvawp@fife.gov.uk

Please share our programme with anyone who might like to know more.

More information about stalking can be found here:

Forms of Violence Against Women - Stalking | Fife Council

Action Against Stalking Scotland

Stalking - Police Scotland

Surviving Stalking * A podcast on Spotify for Podcasters

International Women's Day 2024

Fife Violence Against Women Partnership (FVAWP) will be recognising International Women's Day, which takes place on Friday 8^th March 2024.

There will be two events held in Fife, organised by partner organisations:

• Fife Women's Aid are holding a creative performance called Dancing on Eggshells, followed by a Q&A session. The performance has been designed and developed by a group of women who are engaged with their services. This event is open to everyone and will take place on Friday 8th March at 12 noon at the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX. There is a maximum of 50 attendees so book early to ensure you get a place. Email info@fifewomensaid.org.uk to book. See their Event Poster.
• Fife Centre for Equalities are holding a celebration event to mark International Women's Day. This will take place in the Dunfermline East Church, Nightingale Place, Dunfermline, KY11 8LW from 12 pm to 4 pm. There will be a range of activities and workshops and much more offered by organisations, groups, and individuals from around Fife. Everyone is welcome to pop in to find out what's happening in their community and take part in one of the workshops on the programme. Tickets are free, but please register for the event.

  For any enquiries, please contact info@centreforequalities.org.uk or telephone: 01592 645310 or text: 07800 005834. You can also view this Event on Facebook.

  As part of this event, a ‘Collage of Our World’ workshop will be held at 1.45 pm - 2.30 pm. This is a collaboration between FVAWP and Zero Tolerance. This workshop will be a lively exploration of what it means to be a woman in Fife. We welcome women from all walks of life, with a special invitation extended to those from marginalised backgrounds.

  Through the dynamic medium of collage, we will collectively weave together the stories, struggles, and triumphs of women in our community. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a first-time creator, there's a place for you here to express yourself and connect with others.

More Events

• Fife Council's Cowdenbeath Communities Team are holding a walk on Monday 4th March. Meet at the Willie Clark Centre at Lochore Meadows at 11:15am. FREE to attend with FREE refreshments and a flower for every woman. Please book a free space here. See their Event poster.

• Dunfermline Soroptimists are holding an 'Inspiring Inclusion' event on Thursday 14th March at 7pm in the Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline. The event will include three speakers who will talk about their own experiences and a round table discussion on how we can “inspire inclusion”. This event is free and the group ask that those attending bring a pack of girls' or ladies' pants to donate to Smalls for All. Places must be booked by the 8th of March by emailing secy.sidunfermline@gmail.com See their Event Poster.

Our annual '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' campaign took place from 25^th November to 10^th December 2023.

Throughout these 16 Days, we had a programme of events that raised awareness about gender inequality and violence against women.

We also held a 'Reclaim the Night' March in Kirkcaldy on Thursday 30th November followed by a free, ticketed event at the Old Kirk. Everyone came together and raised their voices about women’s rights, gender inequality, and gender-based violence.

Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project (KASP) will be posting content on their social media page during September to highlight the issues of childhood sexual abuse. They’ll also be showing the support available for survivors through their service.

Follow their posts on Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project - KASP | Kirkcaldy | Facebook

This exhibition in partnership with OnFife follows on from the success of the previous installations held in Fife (St Andrews University in partnership with Got Consent?, and in partnership with Fife College at their main college campuses). FRASAC has also been an integral partner offering a confidential safe space area at each of the venues.

The installation challenges participants to engage with our universal connection with clothing and reflect on what gives this specific rape culture myth so much power. To put clothing on is so basic and common, to take that action and conflate it with pain and suffering taints not only the individual outfit for the survivor; but also, calls into question all simplistic and normal behaviours as dangerous.

The stories utilised were donated by survivors and are used with their consent

Clothing in the installation is not the actual clothing worn by the survivor, they are recreations of the stories that were donated.

The goal of the Installation is for participants to see themselves reflected in not only the outfits but also the stories. This realisation moves us away from blaming the victim for violence and places responsibility where it belongs, on those who caused harm.

The installation will be facilitated by experienced, trained staff throughout the entirety. Resources and signposting routes will also be supported by partner organisations who will be available at information stalls.

Please see our Exhibition Flyer for more details.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign ran from Friday 25^th November to Saturday 10^th December 2022.

This campaign aimed to raise awareness of gender inequality issues and most importantly highlight the need for change to create a Scottish society that embraces equality and rejects all forms of violence against women and girls.

This included supporting the National White Ribbon pledge - “never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

The programme contained:

• a mixture of in-person and online events, including talks and training sessions across a wide range of subjects
• a wide range of social media inputs, including posts, videos, blogs and chat events
• some practical ideas for involvement during the campaign
• a number of community based discussion events

The Fife Violence Against Women Partnership co-ordinates campaigns with partners. To give you a flavour of what we have been involved in over the years, our previous are listed below, with links to our campaign messages at the bottom of the page:

• #ToointoyouFVAWP2019
• #consent FVAWP2019
• #FVAWP16days2020

Part of our public awareness strategy has been to host exhibitions from national Violence Against Women (VAW) partners, that highlight various areas of Gender Based Violence. In 2019 we hosted two:

1. Zero Tolerance’s "Violence Unseen" photography exhibition, explores types of violence against women that remain unseen and unacknowledged by mainstream society
2. Inside Outside - an exhibition which explores Women’s experiences of the sex industry in Scotland using multi-media platforms.

Monday 14 July is recognised nationally as a Day of Memory for those lost to Honour Based Abuse and an opportunity to bring renewed hope to those who need it. Karma Nirvana - Day of Memory

Honour-based abuse (HBA) involves a range of abusive practices aimed primarily at controlling what is perceived to be unacceptable behaviour. This form of abuse arises when an individual's actions are seen as conflicting with cultural, societal, religious norms, or long-standing traditions.

Perpetrators often feel compelled to safeguard or restore the family’s reputation within the community and these actions are frequently justified under the guise of preserving ‘honour’

Women and girls of all ages are predominately the victims of Honour Based Abuse.

Please support us and Shakti Women's Aid by viewing their social media posts on Monday 14th July and sharing their messages with your networks. You can find them on Facebook at Shakti WA Aid | Facebook.

There is also a huge amount of information about Honour based Abuse on the Shakti Women's Aid website.

You might also want to view and share, the following video:

Honour Based Abuse Animation

If you or someone you know needs support regarding Honour Based Abuse you can contact Shakti Women's Aid on 01383 732 289 or info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk

If your enquiry is out of office hours please contact the 24 hour domestic abuse helpline on 0800 0271234.