SoulSpeakOut

2012 Breaking Free Retreat for Survivors in England, UK

On 3rd February, Breaking Free will be hosting a residential Manor Retreat. The retreat is specifically for non-offending, 18+ female survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assaults and rape. Finding the right help for recovery is second to none, but we’re pleased to tell you that new hope has finally arrived. The Manor retreat is situated in one of the most peaceful and beautiful parts of England at Urchfont Manor, with it’s plush lawns and wild deer; providing the perfect location for escapism and healing. Fundamentally we focus on treating the induced trauma and in turn offer you the opportunity to actually get in touch with your feelings; enabling you to release all of the pent of negativity that’s held you back for too long. We provide a solid chance at healing. Working alongside other survivors on issues such as guilt, anger, shame, self nurturing, self esteem and emotional expression, gives an unrivalled level of experience; enabling you to enhance your recovery and come out of isolation.

After all, why should you have to go through this alone?

For more information, please contact Ally Spalding
T:   01793 514339/ 07547 680839
E:  breaking3@gmail.com
W: www.breakingfreesupport.co.uk

Open. Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm

Nb. Breaking Free also provides one to one therapy, supportive group work, helpline support, free access to our forum, residential manor retreat, compensation claims, referrals and information on other support projects.

New year brings spike in domestic violence

This article and the following video from the Houston Chronicle highlight the spike in cases of domestic violence following the holiday season. Holidays can be stressful, particularly for families already dealing with financial or emotional troubles. Many of those dealing with violence at home try to hold it together for “family centered” holidays, resulting in a sudden spike in violence after the holiday season has passed. “The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence found that the number of emergency calls tend to drop on Christmas Day and then go up, suggesting that families try to have a joyous holiday, despite the violence that may occur the rest of the year.”

Sexual Violence in Haiti

The problem of sexual violence in Haiti has increased dramatically following the earthquake in January of 2010. This article published in The Daily Beast and featured on hrw.org highlights the disturbing problem and its impact on a country already in crisis. “On top of the catastrophic earthquake that has left more than 200,000 dead and 1.2 million people homeless… The camps are unsafe places, and many women live with strangers, having lost contact with family members and friends…Violence against women was a problem in Haiti long before the earthquake, with rape only recognized as a crime in 2005.”

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Previously, November 25 was observed in Latin America and a growing number of other countries around the world as “International Day Against Violence Against Women”. It was first declared by the Feminist Encuentro for Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bogota, Colombia. At that Encuentro women systematically denounced gender violence from domestic battery, to rape and sexual harassment, to state violence including torture and abuses of women political prisoners.

This photoblog from MSNBC highlights several countries commemoration of the day on November 25, 2010 along with a statement by U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

White Ribbon Campaign

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest global effort of men working to end violence against women; the movement is active in over fifty-five countries. In 1991, a handful of men in Canada decided they had a responsibility to urge men to speak out about violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon would be a symbol of men’s opposition to violence against women. With only six weeks of preparation, 100,000 men across Canada wore a white ribbon, while many others were drawn into discussion and debate.

President Obama on ending domestic violence

President Obama speaks about the unprecedented efforts across the Federal Government and throughout the nation to protect survivors of domestic and sexual violence in an event marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month on October 27, 2010.

2010′s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign website just launched!

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

The Campaign spans from November 25 to Dec. 10th.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

• raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work around violence against women
• establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

Visit their website!

http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu//

And Checkout Their Photo Stream from Around the World On Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18578511@N04

Such as this image from 16 Day Campaign in Serbia…

Joe Biden on Ending Violence Against Women

To mark the 16th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, the Vice President and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, spoke with leaders in the movement to end domestic violence. The purpose of the conversation was both to commemorate the passing of the act as well as discuss adaptations that need to be made in the movement to end violence against women.

Eve Ensler of the Vagina Monologues

Eve Ensler, the creator of the Vagina Monologues and founder of V-Day- a movement to end violence against women and girls everywhere, speaks here about her motivation for starting the Vagina Monologues. Much of this motivation comes from the high volume of violence against women she witnessed while traveling the globe listening to women’s stories.