It’s Christmas day today. A day celebrated by a large part of the world. It’s the holidays of peace and family, harmony and generosity.
To me it’s also 25th – the United Nation’s Orange Day, the day of raising awareness and encouragement to action for ending violence against women. And I am convinced that if we combine these two days – we will get peace, harmony, generosity and awareness all together. The best recipe for ending violence against women.
But unfortunately in too many homes and families girls and women experience the opposite of peace, harmony, and generosity. Awareness is absent, but violence of men against women is present and there definitely too many men who gulp down alcohol and excuse their violence against their family members with it too.
It’s around Christmas time when there are many girls and women suffering violence right in their homes and have nowhere to go. The places supposed to be the safest shelters turn into war places. Two things usually happen, according to my experience from different parts of the world: these holidays give reasons for many, especially men to use alcohol at home and with the family and at the same time there are no other places for children and women to go to, to find protection in because of the holidays. So, they are stuck at home with a violent man – father, husband, uncle, grand pa.
Amanda has written about her Christmas holidays when she was growing up. And there are many stories like that. You know, regardless the continent (read Brenda’s latest blog), climate zone, even religion the phenomenon is wide spread and repeats all over the year. The more alcohol is used – the more violence is recorded. I’ll let you do the math. Simple, isn’t it?
So our cause is simple as well. We suggest, encourage and support to make each 25th – each UN’s day of ending violence against women – alcohol free. By that simple action, we would reduce violence against women significantly. IOGT International has prepared a short video to demonstrate the idea.
The video has been made by 4 people coming from 4 different countries, 2 different continents, having very different backgrounds and experiences, all agreeing that this is a logical and given act for each 25th.
And in this spirit I hope you, too, use the recipe of harmony and peace and awareness to spend this 25th free from alcohol. You can make your own recipe for your tasty Orange Drink, in solidarity with women and girls, and please share your Orange Drink recipe to celebrate an alcohol free 25th.
I think it’s amazing to imagine the freedom =) At least once a month.
I wish you happy holidays! I really hope this day is peaceful and safe for you and the people who surround you.