Tuesday, 25 November, is Orange Day - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The UN has been drawing attention to gender-specific violence since 1991: Buildings around the world are lit up in the colour orange as part of the campaign. Paderborn University is once again sending out an important signal this year and is taking part in the day of action.
"Violence against women must have no place at our university or in society in general. We take a firm stand against it and we want to express this in particular on this day. Paderborn University is committed to a trusting and respectful working and study atmosphere for all university members that excludes sexualised harassment, discrimination and violence," says University President Prof. Dr. Matthias Bauer.
Selfie campaign on an orange bench
An orange bench will be set up on campus from 25 November to 9 December as a symbol against violence against women. Donated by Inner Wheel, a globally organised women's association, the bench has already travelled all over Paderborn. Its new location is in the library foyer in Building B by the "Picnic" wall. All members of the university are invited to take a photo of themselves there and thus set a personal sign of solidarity. The picture can then be easily uploaded using a QR code. The photos will be collected and later published on a UPB website for the day of action.
Bread roll bags with a message: it's not (just) the contents that matter here
Paderborn University, together with many other NRW universities, is also taking part in the sandwich bag campaign "Gewalt kommt mir nicht auf den Campus" (Violence doesn't come on campus), which was initiated by the state conference of equal opportunities officers at universities and university hospitals in NRW. The focus is on the fight against patriarchal violence that specifically affects women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people (FLINTA*). As part of this campaign, the Studierendenwerk Paderborn will be handing out sandwich bags printed with a corresponding statement in its catering institutions from 25 November.
Car park lights up orange
"As a visible sign, the university car park will also be illuminated in orange," says Dr Annika Hegemann, the university's Equal Opportunities Officer and responsible for UPB's Orange Day activities. "It is important to me not to taboo the topic of violence against women, as only a discussion that is fair to those affected can lead to sustainable improvement."
Further information can be found on the campaign day website.
This text was translated automatically.
