SILHILLIANS were out in force to take the Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWA) pledge to end violence against women.
The charity dressed Mell Square’s Family Outing statue in the colours and symbols of the international anti-violence against women movement and asked members of the public to pose with the artwork and the pledge as part of celebrations for the organisation’s 35th anniversary year.
Many of Birmingham’s most iconic statues were also dressed for the day including the Maternity Statue outside Birmingham Women’s Hospital and The River in Victoria Square.
Over 300 members of the public stopped to take the pledge in Birmingham and Solihull, along with many well-known faces from the area.
BSWA Chief Executive Maureen Connolly said they were delighted that so many people, both members of the public and key public figures, took the BSWA pledge and stood with us against domestic and sexual violence towards women and children.
She added: “This is an issue that is often hidden behind closed doors, and it is so important that we talk about it as a society and as a community in our area.
“We received a fantastic level of interest from the public, and we are thrilled that so many people will have gone away with a greater awareness of domestic and sexual violence and of the services BSWA offers.”
Caroline Murray, Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator at Solihull Council, made her pledge to ‘Together we can end violence against women and children’ at the decorated Mell Square statue, alongside Maureen and Bec Bayliss BSWA Refuge and Outreach Manager for Solihull.
