Document

“Torpedo” Kutaisi – the face of the 16-day campaign

The Women Fund “Sukhumi” opened the international information campaign “16 active days against gender-based violence” a day earlier.

November 24. 19.00.

Kutaisi. Stadium named after Ramaz Shengelia – “Shengelia Arena”.

Match between “Torpedo” Kutaisi and “Dinamo” Tbilisi.

And... the most unusual and special:

The entire “Torpedo” team came out wearing white T-shirts with the slogan of our campaign: “Break the silence! Stop the violence”!

The footballers carried this slogan in the form of a large banner.

“Torpedo” Kutaisi has been the face of the 16-day campaign before - in 2003 and 2013.

In 2003, the action also took place at the stadium before the match with “Dinamo” Tbilisi. Then the players carried a long white ribbon into the stadium with the slogan: “Violence is evil! Let's unite against violence against women”!

This was quite a serious demonstration and an unusual action for that time!

As a result of the efforts of our and other organizations, society has realized that violence goes beyond the problem of one family and has more harmful consequences than we think. Three years later, in 2006, the Georgian parliament adopted a law against domestic violence...

Both times, in 2003 and 2013, we printed calendars with images of “Torpedo” players and a call against violence. These calendars also played important role in those years, because the word said by an athlete, a football player, has enormous power...

Twenty years have passed since the first action. Now the topic of violence is much more relevant. The state is doing a lot to solve the problem, society is more intolerant towards the rapist and protects the victim.

However, the problem is still relevant, and we all have a lot to do together.

The “Torpedo” football club has taken social responsibility and supported us financially: it printed calendars with a campaign slogan.

These calendars and our information booklets were distributed at the stadium by the staff of the organization and young activists. Spectators joined the action with great interest.

This year, the Women Fund “Sukhumi” launched its 21st campaign.

Over the course of 16 days, dozens of events will be held in 10 municipalities of Western Georgia.

“Break the silence! Stop the violence! - many people will repeat and understand these words.