Every year, the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) hosts the Shine the Light campaign. This campaign runs throughout the month of November to raise awareness of violence against women by turning the community purple. The colour purple symbolizes courage, and signifies that we stand in solidarity and support women who have experienced abuse from their partner.
The goal of the campaign is not only to raise community awareness and bring the community together in supporting abused women, but also to assist community agencies that provide abused women with assistance as they try to live their lives free from abuse and violence.
However, with the pandemic, this campaign is even more important.
Fabienne Haller the Fund Development Coordinator and Shine the Light Coordinator at LAWC highlights that due to the pandemic, women and girls have been isolated from society and are at home with their partner or abuser which has made things very difficult for these women.
COVID has not impeded the campaign in any way. If anything, Haller said that the pandemic has given the campaign a “further reach using our social media and using any kind of virtual opportunities.”
“The campaign looks different from the organizing point of view; however, for the community to participate its still pretty much the same message that you’re sending by putting a purple lightbulb on your porch or LED string lights. You’re still showing your support to abused women and girls in this community, and I think that participation hasn’t changed,” said Haller.
The campaign will kick off on November 2 at 5:30pm on Facebook and will have several events for people to participate in. The Shine the Light on Women Abuse campaign runs throughout the month of November.
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