More than 150 years may have passed since the iconic March 8, 1857, a day commemorating the struggles of women textile workers in New York City, but the need to claim gender equality, both politically-economically and socially, remains urgent.
The Diotima Center, since 1989, continues its initiatives and actions to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in all fields of social life and chooses this day to stay away from the logic of celebration.
Honoring the symbolism of International Women’s Day, we choose March 8, 2018, as the starting point of our new campaign against gender-based violence.
After decades of women’s struggles and achievements, the legal enshrinement of equality, and individual institutional improvements, one would think that a similar campaign would not be necessary.
Nevertheless, violence against women remains a global, everyday phenomenon. Official figures show that 1 in 4 women in Europe will suffer some form of abuse in her lifetime.
This is precisely why action to foster a culture of zero tolerance towards gender-based violence is essential.
This month-long campaign will have a nationwide scope and will include a series of actions to raise public awareness of the phenomenon of gender-based violence, targeting the heart of the gender stereotypes that sustain and reproduce it.
The title, actions, program, and materials of the campaign will be announced on the Diotima Centre’s website and page.
The campaign is being implemented as part of the SPEAK program, with the kind sponsorship of Papastratos, which includes, in addition: providing free legal assistance to low-income women who suffer or have suffered gender-based violence. Organizing information and awareness-raising workshops for open groups of young men and women.
