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.

Partners and related activities

Signs of violence. At the Candle-Light Vigil we will also be "wearing" violence signs, in solidarity with the protest march organized by the Filia Centre and the Front Association in front of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest in the same day and at the same time. The Red Cross volunteers will be doing the make-up of the participants (using AVON products). Organizers, partners and their volunteers and also any interested passers-by will wear make up.

The promise of the hands. Avon Cosmetics participates in our action with the panel of promises “These hands will never hit”, as well as informative materials. Moreover, during this period, AVON will put in their customers’ packages 1500 flyers with the following services available in the County of Sibiu for the victims of violence: the A.L.E.G. Counseling Centre and the Sibiu Women Associations’ Reception Centre for women and children victims of domestic violence.

For any other activity suggestion please contact us until Thursady, November 17^th.

Photographs from the Inna exhibition

And some photographs from the event; you can find more on our Facebook page:

Candle-Light Vigil for the Silent Witnesses