Yarn Bombing for Survivors
On the 2nd of December, members of Dear Em along with volunteers ‘yarn bombed’ a tree outside East Coast Bays Library.
Our art installation was created to be a message of hope for women and girls impacted by sexual violence, in support of the United Nations ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’. Countless hours were spent by volunteers to knit and crochet all the gorgeous fabric we used on the tree. The central piece on the installation reading “We Believe You” is a message to everyone who has experienced gender-based violence and/or sexual violence. The main colours, teal and purple, are two recognised colours for gender-based violence used by organisations internationally and in New Zealand.
The theme of this years ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women. This year's campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention (United Nations, 2023).
In New Zealand, more than one in four girls experience sexual abuse before the age of 15. Despite this, reporting and conviction rates are extremely low. Gender-based violence, especially sexual violence, is rarely spoken about, despite the enormous physical, mental, and economic cost to women and girls. We want survivors to know that they are heard, and they are not alone. We will continue advocating for them and we call on the community to do the same.
We hope our art installation provides hope, joy, and comfort to survivors and the wider community. We also hope it encourages people to be supportive of those who come forward about experiencing sexual violence and support violence prevention initiatives.
There's #NoExcuse for gender-based violence.
- Dear Em
Statistics from this article:
Prevalence: Results from the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey found that more than one in four females (26%) reported experiencing sexual abuse before age 15 (1). Globally, an estimated 736 million women - almost one in three - have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life (2).
Fanslow, J., Hashemi, L., Gulliver, P., & McIntosh, T. (2021). Adverse childhood experiences in New Zealand and subsequent victimization in adulthood: Findings from a population based study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 117, 105067
UN Women. (2023) Facts and figures: Ending violence against women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
Level of reporting and conviction rates: The Ministry of Justice estimates that 92% of sexual abuse crimes are not reported to Police (1). The Ministry of Justice suggests that if only 10% of sexual violence is reported to Police, for every 100 victimisations only three results in a perpetrator being charged, and only one results in a conviction (2).
Ministry of Justice. (2021). New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey Key Findings. https://www.justice.govt.nz/
Ministry of Justice. (2019). Attrition and progression: Reported sexual violence victimisations in the criminal justice system. https://www.justice.govt.nz/
