Orange Bank in Wesermarsch: strong sign against violence on women!

Orange Bank in Wesermarsch: strong sign against violence on women!

In the Wesermarsch, a striking orange bank ensures a sensation and attention to an urgent social problem: violence against women. This bank, which bears the motto "here is no place for violence against women", travels from town hall to town hall to get the topic out of the taboo zone and encourage more women to seek help from advice centers or institutions. The place of this campaign is the Wesermarsch region, which has been faced with an alarming increase in registered cases of domestic violence in recent years.

How clear the situation is, shows a terrifying increase in cases of domestic violence. The equal opportunities officer Maren Ozanna and her team had to deal with 448 incidents in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of 50 percent compared to the previous year. This indicates that more women are willing to look for help, but it remains unclear whether this suggests growing awareness or actually on an increase in violence. It is particularly worrying that in more than half of the cases, women themselves, but police officers inform the advice center after they have been called.

domestic violence - a complex phenomenon

The fact that domestic violence has many faces is crucial. Ozanna explains that not only physical violence plays a role, but also psychological violence, stalking as well as social and economic oppression. Women who are affected often see themselves exposed to several of these forms of violence. In 2023 domestic violence in Germany concerned around 256,276 people, with 65 percent of cases taking place in partnerships. Interestingly, 80 percent of those affected are women in these partnerships, which further illustrates the gender -making weight in this dramatic topic.

Despite the increasing number of those seeking help, many affected people are often unsure of how advice is going. The high barriers, such as shame and fear of stigmatization, are often factors that prevent women from making help. Ozanna points out that many women take advantage of advice for years, but do not see themselves able to take the step towards separation, since the separation situation is often the most dangerous for those affected.

Initiatives to increase sensitization

In order to raise awareness of this urgent problem, the Wesermarsch organizes numerous initiatives. At the internationally recognized “Orange Day” on November 25th, a symbolic flag is also being raised in the Wesermarsch. A special campaign that was carried out last year included distributing 32,000 orange bags with valuable information and contact addresses. These bags were distributed together with local bakeries and were very well received by the population.

Another interesting facet of this initiative is the Orange Bank itself, which is not only a symbol, but also an interactive element. In the future, it is planned to equip the bank with contact details and QR codes in order to further improve the accessibility of the advice center. This would make it easier for women to get support directly in difficult situations without having to search for information for a long time.

A remarkable part of the project also includes a photo campaign in which citizens, local politicians and employees of the administration were encouraged to be photographed on the bench in order to set an example against violence. This photo collage is used for further awareness, as the equal opportunities officer explains. The commitment of the community shows that the collection of photos is not only a work of art, but also a strong commitment to an important topic.

In the Wesermarsch, the Orange Bank is not only a static work of art, but can also become a symbol of hope and the courage to take advantage of help. The municipality of Lemwerder has already expressed interest in initiating its own bank, and it remains to be seen how this concept will be further developed in order to draw even more attention to the problem.

This movement not only stands for the support of those affected, but also throws a light on the need for constant conversations and educational measures related to violence against women. In addition to the two striking days of the year, such as international women's day or the Orange Day, Ozanna calls for a regular examination of the topics in order to change the social perception of violence in the partnership.

For more information and current developments on violence against women, the Lawega advice center in the Brake district house offers support. Those affected can get support anonymously, free of charge and confidentially. The advice center aims to strengthen women in crisis situations and give them the necessary space in order to stand up for themselves and their rights, as well as current reporting On www.nwzonline.de shows.