Rules and rights
Violence against women: knowing where to find help.
Every year on 25 November, the United Nations marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Beyond the ribbons and the buildings lit up in orange, the day is above all a reminder that there are trained people ready to listen, free numbers to call and places where you will be believed. This article gathers the essentials: what the word violence covers, who to call in Ireland and the UK, and how to stand by a friend who confides in you.
25 November, a day set by the UN
The UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in its resolution 54/134. The date honours the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were killed in 1960 on the orders of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo.
It also opens sixteen days of activism that run until 10 December, Human Rights Day. Throughout those days, the UN campaign invites everyone to wear orange, a bright colour chosen to stand for a future free from violence.
Putting words to what is happening
Violence does not always leave visible marks. It can come through actions, but also through words, money, a phone or public space. Being able to name it often helps people see they are not overreacting, and that they have every right to talk about it.
These forms often overlap, and none of them has to be “serious enough” to deserve a hearing.
- Physical: hitting, shoving, being locked in, things thrown
- Psychological: humiliation, threats, being cut off from friends and family, constant control
- Sexual: any act or contact that is forced, including within a relationship
- Economic: wages taken, spending watched, documents kept from you
- Online: relentless messages, a phone being monitored, images shared without consent
- On the street: comments, gestures, someone following or blocking the way
Who to talk to in Ireland and the UK
In Ireland, the Women’s Aid 24 hour National Freephone Helpline, 1800 341 900, is a free, non-judgmental and confidential service, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is there for women experiencing abuse, and for anyone worried about someone they know.
In the UK, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247, can be called for free and in confidence, 24 hours a day. Both lines take time to listen, explain the options and point you towards local support.
- Ireland: Women’s Aid, 1800 341 900, free, confidential, 24/7
- UK: National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247, free, confidential, 24 hours a day
When it is an emergency
Helplines are there to listen and advise, not to send help on the spot. In immediate danger in the UK, call 999. In Ireland, and anywhere in the European Union, 112 is the free emergency number.
- UK: 999
- Ireland and the rest of the EU: 112, free of charge
Supporting a friend who confides in you
When someone close tells you what they are going through, the most useful response is often the simplest: listen without interrupting, believe them, and tell them it is not their fault. Questions like “why don’t you just leave?” close the conversation, even when asked with love.
They set the pace. You can offer to call a helpline together, stay beside them during the call, or keep the number handy for later. Women’s Aid in Ireland also supports people who are worried about someone they know, so you can call to ask how best to help.
- Listen all the way through, without judging
- Believe them, and say so
- Offer, never push: the call, company, a safe place
- Stay there over time, even if nothing changes straight away
On the street: assault or harassment
Faced with someone who insists, follows or threatens, the aim is to get out of the one to one. Heading into an open shop, towards a group or onto a well lit street changes the scene. Speaking to one specific person, “you in the blue coat, please stay with me”, works better than calling out to a crowd.
If you are a witness, a calm presence is often enough: stand nearby, start talking to the person being targeted, ask whether they would like you to walk with them. In danger, call 999 in the UK or 112 in Ireland.
Any questions?
Why is violence against women day held on 25 November?
The UN chose the date to honour the Mirabal sisters, three Dominican political activists killed in 1960 on the orders of the ruler Rafael Trujillo. The day opens sixteen days of activism that end on 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Why is orange the colour of 25 November?
Orange is the colour of the UN campaign to end violence against women. Bright and optimistic, it stands for a future free from violence, and people are invited to wear it during the sixteen days of activism.
Which helpline can I call in Ireland or the UK?
In Ireland, the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900, free, confidential and open 24/7. In the UK, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, free and confidential, 24 hours a day.
