On November 25th, the “16 Days Against Violence” will begin again worldwide – also in Villach and also in lockdown. “With our statement to illuminate five buildings, we are making an urgent appeal to society. The focus must be on awareness of this subject, which is still taboo, ”emphasizes the Deputy Mayor’s Deputy Mayor Gerda Sandriesser. Especially in this year, yes in the past few months, cruel deeds have been committed against women. “It should make us think that the number of unreported acts of physical and psychological violence under the pressure of the pandemic is still many times higher,” says Sandriesser.
Villach’s women’s representative, Alisa Herzog, adds: “Violence against women, in whatever form, is intolerable. It is the task of all of us not to turn a blind eye to clearly position ourselves against it and to act. Protection against violence and prevention of violence must have the highest priority. It must not be that Austria gains notoriety as the “land of feminicide”. ”The Villach City Women’s Office is delighted that this year, too, a visible sign against violence against women is being set with united forces.
“Orange the World” as a symbol
As in previous years, from tomorrow, November 25th, public buildings will be illuminated in orange as a symbol against violence. There are 130 in Austria, in Villach there are Heiligenkreuz Church, the Evangelical Church at the Stadtpark, the Maria Gail pilgrimage church, the administrative building of the LKH Villach and, for the first time, the Dinzlschloss orange, silent memorials. The planned light march with performance by the Soroptimists will be postponed because of the lockdown. “This explosive topic does not require any delay, we want to go ahead with it in any case,” emphasizes Gerlinde Klammer-Minichberger, the president of the club.
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