Since 2015 Margaret Geraghty (current Drogheda Soroptimist Club President), has been leading the way working in partnership with White Ribbon Ireland and St Oliver’s Community College to raise awareness to help end violence against women and promote gender equality. The partnership facilitated by Drogheda Soroptimists was a direct result of the terrible murder of Jill Meagher (née McKeown) in Melbourne in 2012. Jill was a past pupil of St Oliver’s Community College and to honour Jill the staff and students worked together through workshops, seminars and plays to become the first White Ribbon secondary school in Ireland.
White Ribbon Day on the 25th November, is also the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and signals the start of the annual 16 Days of Action campaign. This years theme is “Orange the World, End Violence Against Women now”. Drogheda Soroptimists have been busy working with Nóirín Coghlan of the Louth Leader Partnership and other local groups to prepare for this years 16 Days Campaign.
The campaign will be launched at the Monasterboice Inn on the 25th November. Guest speakers will be Susan Keogh of the Drogheda Women & Children’s Refuge and Sean Cooke of the Men’s Development Network.
The Connect Family Resource Centre in Moneymore, will be running a workshop titled “One Million Stars to End Violence” and St Oliver’s Community College will be running consent workshops and other awareness raising projects in the school.
During the 16 days Drogheda Soroptimists will be on tour with their ending violence against women banner.
Martello Tower (Millmount) will be lit in orange and will be a constant reminder that one in three women experience gender based violence. If you are experiencing violence or know of someone at risk help is available. For more information contact sidrogheda@gmail.com