COUNCIL buildings will be lit up in orange to mark the start and end of a anti gender-base violence campaign by the UN. 

East Dunbartonshire libraries, community hubs and libraries will take part on the first and last day of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence Campaign.

The global campaign begins on 25 November, which also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

The Community Hubs in Bearsden, Kirkintilloch and Bishopbriggs, as well as Milngavie Town Hall will all be lit up in orange to raise awareness of the campaign and encourage residents to learn more about the efforts being made to eliminate gender-based violence.

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Joint council leader Andrew Polson said: "Gender based violence is a violation of human rights and the negative impact on society is monumental.

"All the evidence from the UN indicates that the pandemic has exacerbated all the risk factors for violence against women.

“By supporting and actively getting involved in 16 Days of Action, the Council want to raise awareness of the campaign and also the work that is done locally by the organisations that make up Empowered.”

The 2021 theme, Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now, is supported by East Dunbartonshire Council, Kirkintilloch Soroptimists, and Empowered, the multi-agency partnership of services in the local authority working to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

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Joint council leader Vaughan Moody added: “We all have a responsibility to end violence against women and girls, and to ensure survivors are given the support they need.

“Violence in all in forms against women is never acceptable and we must all play our part in ensuring women and girls in our community have safe and healthy lives.”

A UN report estimates that one in three women aged 15 or older around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. 

However, these figures don’t reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and would be even higher if they included the full types of violence that affect women and girls, such as harassment and online abuse.

More information on support services can be accessed at https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/gender-based-violence