Four Ways to Speak Out campaign

Refuge have launched a new campaign in conjunction with Avon to encourage people to speak out against domestic violence and demand an end to the postcode lottery for domestic violence service. One in three local authorities do not have any domestic violence service provision. There are four ways you can help:

1. Buy the Avon Empowerment Necklace, which costs £3, all proceeds going to Refuge and the United Nations Development Fund for Women. (Or if, like me, you feel a bit squicked out by a beauty company calling themselves ‘the company for women’ and don’t want to buy their products - great as it may be that they’re supporting this campaign - you could just donate £3 directly to Refuge.)

2. Speak to the government - sign the petition calling for an end to the postcode lottery.

3. Speak to your local community - display the poster with Refuge’s freephone DV helpline number in your workplace, community centre etc. (0808 2000 247).

4. Speak to your friends and family - ask them to join the campaign.

Find out more about the Four Ways to Speak Out Campaign on the hompage.

Your Comments

earwicga said:

I have been trying for a year now to find out where Avon source the confilct minerals such as gold and diamonds for their products. Finally after many emails they declined to tell me. Avon self-style themselves as a company by women for women, they fund publicity campaigns around domestic violence and breast cancer, yet could be contributing to the rape and murder of women in confilct zones such as Darfur and DCR. Avon have also included an offer for mobile phones in one of their most recent books, and the components for mobile phones almost certainly come from conflict zones - or have Avon found a source of phones that allow ethical materials to be used in a mobile phone that costs £10?!?!?

Posted on 30 November 2009 at 8:40 PM

Laura Woodhouse said:

Thanks for the extra info, earwicga, I didn't realise Avon did jewellery and phones etc too.

Posted on November 30, 2009 9:35 PM

earwicga said:

Avon don't generally sell mobile phones - this was an incentive. The diamond and gold I was speaking of is contained in the cosmetics and toiletries, totally un-necessarily in my view. But yes, they do sell jewellery. I don't want to take over this thread, but I find it hard to believe that they market themselves as such but cannot confirm that their products don't contain materials that damage women in vast numbers i.e. conflict gold/minerals!!!

Posted on 30 November 2009 at 9:43 PM

earwicga said:

And I must also add that I don't criticise Refuge for hooking up with Avon as a corporate partner - if government won't fund services for women then there has to be another source of funds.

Just to note - Avon's promotional literature states that 80% of the proceeds from the necklace go to Refuge and 20% go to UNIFEM. It doesn't anywhere detail what 'proceeds' actually means i.e. how much of the £3 goes to charity.

Posted on 30 November 2009 at 9:52 PM

polly said:

I think donate £3 to refuge would be a better idea. With all these charity campaigns it seems you just end up with a crappy product you don't want most of the time. It's fair enough if it's a product you would buy anyway, but if it's not, why bother?

Also what Earwicga said.

Posted on 30 November 2009 at 10:35 PM

Liz said:

I thought you might be interested to know that Avon also sell playboy items!! just unbelievable in light of their 'campaign'.

Posted on 01 December 2009 at 5:53 PM

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