Public Action to Combat Domestic Violence

25 November – Candle-Light Vigil for the Silent Witnesses

A.L.E.G. and “Sibiu Social – The Network of Social Services Providers”

25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Every year on this occasion the Association for Liberty and Equality of Gender in Sibiu – A.L.E.G. organizes the Candle-Light Vigil for the Silent Witnesses. The Silent Witnesses are figures which symbolically represent women who have lost their lives because of domestic violence. The story of a case in Sibiu County will be written on each figure. In 2010, 135 women assaulted by their partners have asked for the issuing of a medical certificate, according to the Sibiu Legal Medicine Institute. But still, many women endure the pain silently and their cases remain unknown until it is too late. A.L.E.G. and its partners invite the people of Sibiu for a candle-light vigil for the silent witnesses so as to emphasize that domestic violence is not just a simple story, but it can be fatal. You are invited at the fountain on Nicolae Bălcescu Street between 4 and 7 o’clock p.m. to light a candle for the Silent Witnesses, thus showing you oppose violence against women. With your help, we want to light at least 135 candles. We want to show that, for each victim, there is at least one person ready to do something to stop violence.

The Gender Equality Festival 2011

You can be a man even without dominating and you can be a woman without letting yourself dominated. We can only free ourselves from gender stereotypes if we are aware of them. This was the main message of the Gender Equality Festival organised between 21 and 23 October 2011 in Sibiu. Over 200 teenagers from Sibiu participated at this educational campaign aimed at fighting against stereotypes about men and women which fuel different forms of discrimination and violence. The campaign used non-formal education to create diverse and attractive events (see the Festivalul Programme).

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Sibiu, 21-23 October 2011

The Gender Equality Festival is a campaign addressed to young people, aimed at fighting against stereotypes about men and women and discriminating behaviour. the festival is organised on an annual basis by the Association for Gender Equality and Liberty - A.L.E.G. The 2010 Gender Equality Festival won the prize for The Project with the Largest Number of Volunteers at the SuperVolunteer Gala. In 2011, the project is financed through the Youth in Action Programme and the Sibiu County Council.

Partners: ASTRA Library, the ASTRA National Museum Complex, the Tura in Natura Association.

Media partners: Sibiu 100%, Radio Kiss FM, Zile si Nopti.

Sponsor: AVON Cosmetics.

Friday, 21 Oct.

Gender Advertisements & Cafe, press conference – Music Pub, 12:00 a.m.

Choose your words – Sibiu, Nicolae Bălcescu pedestrian street, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, 22 Oct.

„Gender Treasure Hunt“ Contest – The Dumbrava Sibiului Open Air Museum, 11:00 a.m.

Forum Theatre – Laguna sub Cetate cafe, Cisnădie, 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, 23 Oct.

„Equals on bicycles“ contest – The Subarini Park, 10:00 a.m.

Forum Theatre – Gong Theatre, 4:00 p.m.

Human Library – Gong Theatre, 6:00 p.m.

Forum Theatre – Music Pub, 8:00 p.m.

Between 21-23.10.2011 A.L.E.G.organises the 6th edition of the Gender Equality Festival - a campaign addressed to young people, aimed at fighting against stereotypes about men and women and discriminating behaviour. The project is financed through the Youth in Action Programme and the Sibiu County Council. Partners: ASTRA Library, the ASTRA National Museum Complex, the Tura in Natura Association. Media partners: Sibiu 100%, Radio Kiss FM, Zile si Nopti. Sponsor: AVON Cosmetics.

Choose the activities you would like to take part in:

• Forum Theatre – educational theatre which actively involves the public in solving problematic situations of the society. There will be 3 shows in Sibiu and Cisnadie.
• Human Library – event which brings the public face to face to its own prejudices: men cannot raise children, women are the weaker sex. The people whose stories contradict a stereotypical generalisation are the Human Books. These books may be "borrowed" by participants for a 20 minutes talk. The readers will be young people from the Sibiu high schools and universities. The message sent by the Human Library is: "Discover diversity beyond generalisation".
• Equals on Bicycles - open air event organised in partnership with the Tura in Natura Association
• Gender Treasure Hunt – prize contest for high school students on the topic of gender equality
• Choose your words - street activity where participants may dedicate messages "written" with the help of our letter-volunteers.
• Study on gender equality among the young generation – the survey will cover at least 500 people. The results of the study will be used in the Gender Equality Promotion Guide which will be published in 2012 and will disseminate the experience of A.L.E.G. and of other organisations in the promotion of gender equality among young people.

If you were convinced by the activities we propose, we will be waiting for you in our A.L.E.G. volunteer team! Please fill in the form at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHlfUm1mbVVqQURkSkZWOTMzazMtRmc6MQ