Stand Strong with victims and survivors of domestic abuse this February

One in four women in Ireland has been a victim of domestic abuse—a harrowing but real figure.

Domestic abuse comes with elements of shame and fear of not being believed, which all contribute to it being a silent and under-reported issue.

The key to dismantling the stigma and shame around domestic abuse lies in raising awareness and essential funds for organisations that work tirelessly to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse.

Organisations like Women’s Aid support and help thousands of women in Ireland every year, with last year being the busiest year in their 50-year history.

Gardaí responded to upwards of 54,000 domestic abuse calls in 2023, likely a drop in the ocean compared to the true number of women being subjected to domestic abuse.

While these heartbreaking figures are hard to swallow, it's more important than ever to be part of movements that work to protect women and children from feeling unsafe in their own homes.

When it's not happening in our homes or our inner circles, it can be easy to turn a blind eye to the issue.

But the reality is that many victims or survivors may never share their experience with domestic abuse, which pushes an issue that demands awareness further to the back of our minds.

If it's not coming up in conversation, when does it become important to protest against it?

It's time we got fired up about the issue on an everyday level instead of waiting for a news headline to bring awareness to it.

This is why powerful campaigns like the one Women's Aid and Allianz Insurance have teamed up for are paramount and require the support and participation of the public.

This February, you can show your support and solidarity with victims of domestic abuse

On February 1st, the two organisations are calling on us all to stand with victims and survivors of domestic abuse through the Stand Strong campaign.

This campaign has three simple actions: Stand Strong, Support and Share.

Stand Strong is a yoga-based campaign that aims to raise awareness and essential funds for the thousands of women every year who contact Women’s Aid for support.

This is an action that everyone can participate in and requires no training or preparation.

You simply just Stand Strong in the warrior yoga pose, donate or fundraise with colleagues, family, or friends, and share pictures on social media using the campaign hashtag #WAStandStrong.

The warrior pose symbolises strength, resilience, and determination—qualities Women’s Aid wants to emphasise in the face of domestic violence and traits they work to empower in the women they help.

Speaking about Stand Strong, CEO of Women’s Aid Sarah Benson gently reminds us that domestic abuse could happen to anyone:

"Stand Strong is a powerful but simple action to reflect that one in four women in this country lives with suffocating abuse from someone they once loved; someone they once trusted.  

"It could be anyone: your best friend; your sister; your colleague; your neighbour; your teammate; your mother; your daughter. Anyone.”

The Warrior 2 pose can be done in a group, with a team or club, by yourself, in your office, or at home.

"By having as many people as take part, we aim to drive greater awareness of the issue of domestic abuse. By sharing and supporting the campaign we raise awareness and vital funds. Someone contacts us every five minutes and everything raised from the campaign really will support women across Ireland.”

Those who sign up early will receive some exclusive campaign goodies, such as retro sweatbands and temporary tattoos, with other campaign merchandise items on offer for top fundraisers.

To sign up, visit www.standstrong.ie.

All money raised will go directly to Women’s Aid, supporting women subjected to domestic abuse. 

Domestic violence can steal a person's voice, and often remains hidden in the dark as a secret shame, but it's the sharing that inspires.

In October, Jennifer Zamparelli bravely opened up about her experience of domestic abuse with a former partner on an episode of her podcast, Jen and Lottie do… Parenting.

A powerful omission from a public figure breaks the silence around the issue and spreads much-needed awareness.

This February, the TV presenter is showing her solidarity and backing the Women’s Aid and Allianz Insurance call for people across Ireland to take part in the demonstration of solidarity and support for those subjected to abuse.

Speaking on the importance of the campaign, Jennifer says it's all about letting women know that help is available to them.

"Often, we do not hear about it because there is an element of shame, but we need to show our support, we need to let women know, if they need it, there is help, there is support. They do not need to feel unsafe in the place that they live. 

"So, I am backing the Stand Strong campaign with Women’s Aid in association with Allianz Insurance who are very kindly supporting this campaign. Every single penny raised for this will go straight to Women’s Aid, which is amazing.”

Speaking about her own experience of abuse by a former partner, the broadcaster highlights the hardships women may feel when grappling with the idea of leaving an abuser and how it can be hard to identify one.

“He was a very charming person. Always the fun guy. Great on a night out. There was this turn in him — and he always took it out on me.

"That was a major red flag that I completely ignored because I believed all the nonsense that came after it. A lot of people used to say to me: ‘Why didn’t you leave?’ The simple fact was because I loved him.

“By supporting Women’s Aid and the Stand Strong Campaign, I want to let people know that this can happen to anyone but there is hope. You can come out the other side and have a successful relationship and a successful life and it does not have to define you.” 

If one in four women have been subjected to abuse, we may very well meet, interact with, live with, work with, and see these women everyday.

I am one in four.

As a person who grew up in a home where I bore witness to domestic violence against my mother, I know all too well the shame that comes with it.

It's not something that comes up as a topic of conversation or a question you ask when getting to know someone.

But it is part of my story.

One day, when my mother packed up myself and my sisters and got us into the car, she told us we were going on a ‘holiday'.

When we arrived at a house not too far from our own, where other families were staying, we had questions but didn't ask.

It didn't feel like a holiday, more like staying at someone else’s house, but my mom wasn't acting any differently in front of us, so as children do, we adjusted and found fun in this new environment.

What did feel different was life afterwards as the changes that followed our 'holiday' paved the way towards a calmer, quieter, safer, and happier home.

The reality, we later learned, was that we were at a women's refuge after mom summoned the strength to ask for help, which had a chain reaction for us all.

I don't know how differently my life would have been today had she not shown this display of bravery, nor do I want to.

What I do know is that a domestic abuse organisation gave me, my mom, and my sisters a different outcome.

They do life-changing work and rely heavily on donations to deliver 24/7 support for women and families suffering at the hands of an abuser.

How to Participate

Sign Up: Visit www.standstrong.ie to register and to access your campaign goodies.

Stand Strong: In the warrior two yoga pose. There will be a livestream you can access from February 1^st, but you can take the pose any time in February and wherever you like.

Support: Contribute to the cause by donating or sharing your fundraising page. 

Share: Take a picture of you standing strong in the warrior pose and share on social media using #WAStandStrong. 

Women’s Aid can be contacted on their National Freephone Helpline at 1800 341 900 or by sending an email to: helpline@womensaid.ie, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.