By Sorcha Jowtt
DCU’s Amnesty International Society gathered outside the Henry Grattan Building last Thursday with groups of balloons that symbolised Irish women living with domestic abuse.
The event was held to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
According to the society, one in five women in Ireland are being subjected to violence by their boyfriends, partners or husbands.
The society described the symbolism behind the balloons, “Groups of five balloons; four black and a single white balloon with the ‘One in Five’ logo, will visually represent the number of women living with domestic violence in Ireland. The balloons are an arresting visual symbol of the impact of domestic violence on women in Ireland.”
The total number of women estimated to be living with domestic violence in Ireland currently stands at around 213,000.
In addition to the balloon action, the society asked students to dress in a skirt to support women on the day. They also asked that students follow the French feminist movement ‘Neither Whores nor Submissive’.
The movement was founded in 2002 by a group of French women in response to the violence they encountered in the housing estates and suburbs of France’s main cities.
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