SETU supports Sixteen Days of Action campaign in Carlow to end violence against women

South East Technological University (SETU) has launched its 16 Days of Action campaign to raise awareness and call for changes at local, national, and international levels to end violence against women and girls.

Running from 25 November until 10 December - UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women- the 16-day campaign marks its 32nd anniversary this year.

Over the 16 days, SETU will highlight and support the campaign by promoting the concept of ‘Orange the World’.

On Monday,  the University’s Cork Road Campus in Waterford hosted an in-person SETU Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment Response and Prevention Committee (ESP) meeting. Membership of the committee includes key SETU stakeholders and external expert agencies including Waterford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and Community Policing units, Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership from Carlow and Waterford. 

Members of the SETU Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment Response and Prevention Committee (ESP), stakeholders , and external expert agencies supporting the global 16 Days of Action campaign at SETU’s campus in Waterford. Photo by George Goulding.

Orange balloons and umbrellas in the campaign colour were put on display to represent a brighter future for women and girls. Across all campuses, SETU will host a number of events and highlight the issues behind 16 Days via factsheets, the freephone helpline, and various infographics. 

Roisin Shanahan, SETU’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Prevention and Response Manager said, “As part of the implementation of the SETU Action Plan to Tackle Sexual Violence & Harassment 2023 – 2026, we are delighted to launch these 16 days of activism on all our campuses and support the ‘Orange the World’ campaign.”

Other events include workshops on coercive control and domestic abuse, demonstrations by One Million Stars to End Violence Ireland project, peace and hope workshops, and activism in action: The Fight for Stalking Legislation in Ireland. 

On Tuesday, 28 November Amber’s One Million Stars Ireland project, an inclusive community arts project connecting communities across Ireland in solidarity against domestic abuse and all forms of violence, will host a star weavers’ workshop from 12 pm-2 pm on the Wexford campus. Further workshops will be held on 5 December at the Carlow Campus, and on the Waterford Campus on December 11.

Meanwhile, Irish Tatler Woman of the Year Eve McDowell will deliver an online talk for TUS staff on 29 November from 12 pm to 1 pm. Eve is co-founder of Stalking Ireland, a campaign which called on the Department of Justice to make stalking a crime in Ireland.

Lastly, SETU is hosting an introductory workshop on Coercive Control & Domestic Abuse. The workshop will be facilitated by Madeline McAleer on Wednesday, 6 December on Zoom.

Main photo above: Supporting the global 16 Days of Action campaign at SETU’s campus in Waterford were Róisín Shanahan, Sexual Violence & Harassment Prevention & Response Manager, Helena Fitzgerald, Head of Learner Support and Student Services, David Denieffe, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar at SETU’s campus in Carlow, Ciara Byrne, Project Officer - Consent Framework, Dr Allison Kenneally, Vice President for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Anne Murphy EDI Officer at SETU’s campus in Waterford. Photo by George Goulding.