In a small ceremony on 25 November, the two women's representatives of the Saarpfalz district and the city of Homburg, Birgit Rudolf and Anke Michalsky, together with District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo and city councillor Manfred Rippel, raised two new flags on the forecourt of the Homburg Forum on the "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women". The message reads: "The Saarpfalz district and the city of Homburg say no to violence against women." The flag and banner campaign launched by the state working group of municipal women's representatives in Saarland on the occasion of the day of remembrance and action is intended to send a visible and clear signal. At the same time, it calls for more and better equipped support services and the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.
"Not only because of the drastic increase in violent offences against women in Germany in recent years and the lack of at least 14,000 places in women's shelters throughout Germany, we are calling for the rapid and consistent implementation of the Istanbul Convention. This was also signed by Germany in 2018. It obliges all state and social authorities and individuals to protect women and girls from violence and to provide sufficient prevention and support structures," emphasised Anke Michalsky and Birgit Rudolf.
Violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights violations. It is a global phenomenon and people encounter it everywhere: at home, at work, in public spaces and online. Stalking and harassment are just as much a part of it as domestic violence and rape. Whether in India, Mexico or Germany, physical and psychological abuse of women is part of everyday life around the world - as is the fight by women against it.
"This day of action and remembrance was launched over 30 years ago and unfortunately - I have to say - it has not lost any of its significance. The United Nations estimates that more than 35 per cent of all women worldwide are victims of sexual or physical violence at least once in their lives. That is a staggering figure. This makes it all the more important that we actively campaign against all forms of violence as a large community and in unity," said District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo and thanked everyone who took part in the organisation and implementation of the flag campaign.
In addition to physical and sexual violence, psychological and emotional violence also have serious consequences. The World Health Organisation (WHO) names violence as one of the greatest health risks for women. Manfred Rippel also spoke of a "sad reality": "Women all over the world still experience violence every day. We must not close our eyes to this and we must fight against it with all our might - and send out clear signals. The state working group of municipal women's representatives is doing this with today's campaign, it is flying the flag. With the message that is visibly emanating from Homburg, we are succeeding in putting the issue of violence against women centre stage - where it actually belongs."
After the speeches at the flagpoles, the two women's representatives continued the day of action with Diana Deck, district chairwoman of SaarLandFrauen, in the Saarpfalz Centre. There they handed over herb seeds with the inscription "No herb has yet grown against violence against women". The team from the Christian Youth Village (CJD) led by master gardener and trainer Margret Metzger had kindly agreed to distribute the seed packets during the popular poinsettia sales organised by the CJD Homburg / Saar.
Background
As part of the campaign by the state working group of municipal women's representatives in Saarland on 25 November, flags, beach flags and banners on building fences and bridges in Saarlouis, Dillingen, Homburg, Neunkirchen, Püttlingen, Völklingen, St. Wendel, St. Ingbert and the Saarpfalz district highlight the clear position of the women's representatives. The campaign was modelled on the city of Speyer.
Handing over the seed bags to the CJD team at the Saarpfalz Centre in Talstraße (from left): Lucas Boltze, Rick Jung (both CJD trainees), master gardener Christian Pfeil, master gardener Margret Metzger, women's representatives Birgit Rudolf and Anke Michalsky, Liliya Huber, employee of the Women & Work Coordination Office, Diana Deck, Chairwoman of SaarLandFrauen im Saarpfalz-Kreis and Angelina Krauß (CJD trainee).