DUBAI // Violence is not just physical – that was the message to the curious who entered a big orange and black shipping container that appeared on The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence this week.
Inside the container was an interactive platform with five booths. Each had a small screen and headphones and in each booth, visitors were invited on Thursday into the world of a fictitional mother whose main focus was doing the best for her daughter.
In the story the mother faced a range of difficulties. The thread that bound them was abuse – verbal, physical, sexual and financial.
The message: violence does not always come in black and blue.
The container and its message are part of the three-day Orange Campaign by Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) to raise awareness about what violence against women is.
The campaign, which ends on Saturday, was a follow-up to the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which ended on Thursday.
For the visitors to the big orange container on Thursday, there was a happy ending to the story, with the mother claiming her life back. But reality does not always have a happy ending. Sometimes silence covers violence.
“Many ladies exposed to violence prefer not to speak about it for social or economic reasons,” said Maryam bin Theneya, DFWAC’s communication and IT director.
“They even think it would be better for their kids. We want to change this idea and to encourage them and their relatives to call for help from the foundation.”
Ms bin Theneya said women need not be scared to approach the foundation, which helps women in complete confidentiality. “We want abused women to know they should speak up, and we want their relatives and friends to speak up,” she said.
Afra Al Basti, director general of DFWAC, said the aim was to raise awareness among UAE society about what violence looks and sounds like as well as supporting international efforts in fighting violence against women.
“There is no country in the world free of violence against women,” she said. “Organising this campaign in the UAE doesn’t mean it is a phenomenon in society, but it comes in the frame of promoting the efforts of supporting, protecting and empowering women.”
Resident Feryal Haddon was impressed by the campaign.
“Abuse happens, and sometimes women don’t talk,” she said. “This is creating awareness and assuring people that there are organisations, like the DFWAC, that can help you and support you.”
Wareef Othman and Nora Mohammed, from Saudi Arabia, said the container idea was an interesting way to raise awareness. “People in this part of the world may not talk out of fear or not knowing what kind of support they can get,” said Ms Othman. “At the end, it’s up to the woman but it also comes down to family and friends being supportive.”
She said it was also important to note the different types of abusive. “Abuse is not just punching or hitting. There are many other types that are just as harmful.”
The foundation can be contacted via its helpline, 800111, or email, help@dfwac.ae.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
