The campaign, which runs until 10 December, aims to raise awareness of the city’s continuing drive to end domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called honour-based violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment.
At the same time, it highlights the advice and support that is available to victims from local and national organisations such as The Haven Wolverhampton, St George's Hub, Karma Nirvana and the City of Wolverhampton Council.
Addressing the crowd which had gathered for the opening ceremony outside the Civic Centre, Mayor Councillor Linda Leach said: “For the next 16 days, residents and organisations from across Wolverhampton will come together to demonstrate our continued commitment to ending violence against women and girls, and to say ‘No’ to gender-based violence in all its forms.
“Each year, Orange Wolverhampton provides us an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership approach to ending violence against women and girls; to raise awareness of our local services that provide support to victims, survivors, and their families; and to empower our communities to recognise the signs of harm and to look out for one another.
“Violence against women and girls is often under reported, so it is difficult for us to know the full extent of the problem. In Wolverhampton last year, it is estimated that over 6,000 women and more than 3,000 men experienced domestic abuse – but the true number of those experiencing domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence is likely to be far higher.
“The consequences of this are stark and long lasting – tragically, they are sometimes fatal. And the effects of violence and abuse not only touch the lives of individuals, their families, and friends, they also compromise the wider health and wellbeing and safety of our communities.
“So, as well as recognising and spotlighting the experiences of victims and survivors, it is vital that we reinforce our frontline response to violence against women and girls, of protecting those in need and holding perpetrators and offenders to account for their behaviour.
“Supporting Orange Wolverhampton is a chance to stand alongside those affected by gender-based violence and those who work with them. You will also be signalling to the thousands of victims and survivors among us that help and support is always available – and that they are not alone.
“Thank you for your continued support with this important campaign, and for helping us turn our city orange for another year. Together, we are taking steps towards a brighter, more hopeful, and safer Wolverhampton for all.”
For more information visit Orange Wolverhampton.
The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is co-ordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and the council, and runs from 25 November, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, UN Human Rights Day. It supports the UN Orange the World campaign to end violence against women and girls but, in Wolverhampton, there is a strong focus on ending interpersonal violence against all individuals, whether they are female or male.
Anyone suffering from domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence or sexual violence, or knows someone who is, should call the relevant helpline:
- The Haven Wolverhampton 24 hour helpline for women - 08000 194400
- St George’s Hub support for male victims - 01902 421904
- Karma Nirvana helpline for victims of so-called ‘honour-based’ violence and forced marriage - 0800 5999 247
- Wolverhampton Adult Social Care - 01902 551199
- Wolverhampton Children's Social Care - 01902 555392
- West Midlands Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Violence Helpline - 0800 953 9777
- National Domestic Violence helpline for women - 0808 2000 247
- National Domestic Violence helpline for men - 0808 8010327
- NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline - 0800 028 3550
- In an emergency, always call police on 999.
For more information about the work of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, please visit Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together.
