Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Campaign
To celebrate International Women's Day 2012 on Thursday 8 March, Avon's Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador, Alesha Dixon, launched the cosmetics company's new Empowerment necklace and Pass It On campaign to help end violence against women.
A child survivor of domestic abuse, Alesha is passionate about playing her part to ensure a safer and brighter future for women and their families. Supporting Avon's Pass It On campaign, Alesha will be calling on everyone to wear and share the Avon Empowerment necklace to pass on life-saving awareness about domestic abuse and the hope of a world without violence against women.
The necklace features a circular pendant, representing a future of endless possibility for women everywhere. Costing just €4.50, all proceeds go directly to Women's Aid to fund our vital domestic violence support services. Through sales of its Empowerment jewellery range, Avon has already raised over €84,000 in Ireland alone, and over $40 million globally to help ensure a better tomorrow for women worldwide.
Alesha Dixon, Avon's Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador says, "It's an unacceptable reality that one in five women in Ireland will experience violence in their lives - a reality we all must play our part to change. That's why, as we celebrate International Women's Day, I'm so proud to be speaking out against domestic violence and supporting Avon's Pass It On campaign. I'll be wearing and sharing the new Avon Empowerment necklace to show my solidarity and support for women everywhere.
By passing it on you too can help raise life-saving awareness and vital money for domestic abuse support services. Together we can create a safer future for women and their families.
As the company for women, Avon is committed to championing female empowerment and ending violence against women. Avon is mobilising its army of Independent Avon Representatives to pass on life-saving awareness in the hope that more women will live free from violence.
Locate your local Avon representative to support this campaign here
The Women's Aid and Avon Partnership
"We welcome our new partnership with Avon and recognise the vital role of distributors and representatives in getting across the message that help is available if only we can encourage women to speak out."
Margaret Martin, Director, Women's Aid."The ability to access information easily is vital and Avon is proud to support the new Women's Aid website through our Speak Out Against Domestic Violence programme. We hope this new facility will give women reassurance that they are not alone and that help is available. Through our nationwide network of women selling primarily to women, we are well-placed to spread the message and raise awareness... together we can make a difference."
Allyson Russell, Country Manager, Avon Ireland.
The partnership between Women's Aid and Avon is part of the Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence programme. This global programme encourages women to 'break the silence' that surrounds domestic violence by confiding in friends and family and seeking help from organisations such as Women's Aid.
In addition to making a very generous donation, Avon also highlights the National Freephone Helpline and information about Women's Aid services in its brochure and other publications which reach over a million customers in Ireland. This allows Women's Aid to raise awareness of our services to an unprecedented amount of women who may be directly affected by domestic violence or know someone who is.
Thank you Avon
The new look and upgraded Women's Aid website, launched in June 2010, was made possible through our partnership with Avon and the Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence programme.
The Avon programme raised €11,200 for Women's Aid in 2009. The donation has been used primarily to redevelop and upgrade our website. Some of the funds were used for an online advertising campaign for the Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline during the 16 Days of Action last year.
Women's Aid would like to acknowledge the commitment of Avon distributors, representatives and customers across Ireland whose support has enabled us to bring our website into the 21st Century. We know that thousands of women affected by domestic violence access our website for information and support each year. The Avon donation has meant that we can now provide this information in a more up to date and easily accessible way.