BELGRADE – So many women, on average, come out of the dark – and come back. In that circle, she loses support, while those around her judge her: “She doesn’t want help.” If she wanted to, she wouldn’t have come back.”
But that circle is just one of the many traces of the bully. His goal? To isolate the victim, to extinguish everything that provides her with security and support, everything that leads her to freedom.
Avon, which has been actively fighting violence against women in Serbia for more than a decade and a half, is saying with this campaign: THAT’S ENOUGH! It’s time to rethink the messages we send. To stop judging and offer words of encouragement. Words that create a way out of the circle of violence.
On the Sava Promenade in Kalemegdan, a photo exhibition that breaks the silence was opened today.
The exhibition is designed so that on one side there are messages that have extinguished their strength until now – words that often become their narrative and justification for their return. On the other hand, in the photos, we see celebrities who recognized the campaign as constructive and gladly responded to the invitation of the Avon company. There are Mia Bjelogrlić, political scientist, producer and presenter, then athlete Nataša Kovačević, actress Ivona Kustudić, journalist and creator of digital content Brana Antović Aleksić, as well as content creator Jasmina Kovarbašić. All of them send real support to women, but also to their environment.
Each of them sends clear messages. Let every woman, instead of “You chose yourself!” finally hear: “Now choose yourself.” Let “I will save the marriage!” become “Save yourself.” “I will stay for the sake of the children” to be replaced with: “Go for the sake of the children.”
“His father was like that too!” should be said: “But not your son either.” Break the streak, report it!” And let “It won’t happen again!” be silenced before the voice that firmly says: “Don’t wait to find out.”
This exhibition is an invitation. To replace the voices that justify violence with those that illuminate the way out of it. Let’s believe in the power of the spoken word!
“According to the data of the Autonomous Women’s Center, compared to the previous year, there was an increase in physical violence by 9.9%, namely: threats of injury 8.1%, beatings 7.2%, strangulation 2% and economic violence by 7.5%, namely: failure to provide support for 1.4%, prohibition of employment/education for 3.5%, harassment/violent behavior in the workplace for 1.4%. Women leave and return to the abuser for many reasons, but it is important to tell them that getting out of violence is possible! When we know that the victim is greatly influenced and helped by knowing that she will not be judged, rejected and labeled as a culprit by the environment, it is up to us to send the right encouraging messages. That’s what we did!”, he points out the sales director of the Avon company, Marija Radaković.
Avon Action Say NO to violence against women it is started in 2008 and through educational programs and donations, advocates for stopping and preventing violence against women. So far, as part of this Avon action, 3 safe houses in Serbia have been equipped with a donation of security systems, and the project “ONEmpowerment” has been supported, as well as the project of the Autonomous Women’s Center “I can and won’t. Love is not violence!”. To raise public awareness of this topic, numerous campaigns were implemented, such as “You can do it differently”, “You are not alone”, as well as “Sports combat is a challenge, it is a family crime”.
All women who need help and useful advice, as well as anyone from the surrounding area who knows about violence, can call the Autonomous Women’s Center toll-free number 0800 100 007.
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Source: www.advertiser-serbia.com
