Thursdays in Black: “Demanding a world without rape and violence in our community. “

 

Campaign and Information Kit, Brought to you by TWFG, NZUSA and women in students' associations.

 

Campaign explanation

 

Every Thursday people around the world are invited to wear black as a symbol of strength and courage, representing our solidarity with victims of violence, demanding a world without rape and violence.

 

Wearing black on Thursday’s indicates that you are tired of putting up with rape and violence in your community. It demonstrates a desire for a community where we can all walk safely without fear of being beaten up, verbally abused, raped, of being discriminated against due to your sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender or ethnicity.

 

It shows that you want to be free.

 

Background to the Campaign

 

Thursday’s In Black is part of an international movement to demand a world without rape and violence. The campaign has its roots in groups such as Mothers of the Disappeared in Argentina, Black Sash in South Africa and the Women in Black movements in Bosnia and Israel. These groups include Argentinean mothers who gather every Thursday in silence to protest the loss of loved ones under the military dictatorship, women who expressed outrage at the rape-death camps in war torn Bosnia, and women who opposed the Israel occupation of the West Bank and the abuse of the Palestinians.

 

However, Thursday’s In Black is not a campaign confined only to countries officially at war. In fact, a war against women is being raged all over the world, and has continued for centuries. Its weapons include domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, incest, murder, female infanticide, genital mutilation, sexual harassment, discrimination, sex trafficking. In short, sexism.

Thursdays in Black, as a human rights campaign, was started by the World Council of Churches during the 1980's as a peaceful protest against rape and violence - the by-products of war and conflict.

 

The campaign focuses on ways that individuals can challenge attitudes that cause rape and violence. It reinforces at both a personal and public level that there is something wrong with a world that will allow the human rights of women, men and children to be abused and threatened. It provides an opportunity for people to become part of a worldwide movement which enables the despair and pain and anger about rape and other forms of violence to be transformed into political action.

 

The Campaign in Aotearoa/New Zealand

 

Before the Women's Education Coalition Aotearoa (WECA) and the New Zealand University Students' Association (NZUSA) federation office started to facilitate the Thursdays in Black campaign in 1995 there was a presence of the Women in Black campaign in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

 

The Tertiary Women's Focus Group (TWFG) and it's predecessor WECA have been involved with the production of resources and the administration of the campaign through the NZUSA Federation Office for over six years. In the past The NZUSA Women's Co-ordinator, along with a volunteer has administered the campaign. Now it is the administrative job of the NZUSA Women's Rights Officer (NWRO), whilst the local campus women's collectives run the campaign, events associated with it and sell the merchandise.

 

During 1998 Thursdays in Black grew as a campaign. It is a campaign that appeals to a wide range of people, and has begun to have a high profile on campuses and in the community hence it has attracted a lot of interest from students and the general public for the merchandise. The campaign has many ties with the Local community, Universities and other educational Institutions, as well as the Human Rights commission and the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

 

Campuses sell the Tee shirts for a little more than what they buy them for and passing this money onto organisations like Women's Refuge or Rape Crisis in their local area.

At TWFG September 1998 it was suggested that a National Day of Action (NDA) be organised for the campaign. This event can also be used as media re-launch of Thursdays in Black as many people know the Campaign but have lost sight of the goal of the campaign - the support of anti-violence groups and rape survivors in our community. There have been re-launches across the country over the last few years, with women’s groups organising protests, street theatre, symbolic art (such as a washing line with TIB tshirts in the quad) to re-launch the campaign and raise awareness of the issues.

 

The Tertiary Women's Focus Group has agreed to have a National Day, but is yet to decide on the date for 2006.

 

Thursdays In Black in 2006

 

Discrimination, sexual violence, rape, abuse, hate crimes, and homophobia all still exist in our society. Statistically one in four women has been sexually assaulted in some form. It is time that we stand up against these societal evils and claim our communities as safe places.

In addition, with the “War on Terror” currently going on in the Middle East, it is time for women and men to unite against war. With our world in its current state of upheaval and unrest, and superpowers making unilateral decisions which have huge consequences for thousands of innocent people, it is time for women and men to unite against war. Thursdays in Black is one way we can protest against this threat of overwhelming violence.

 

Thursdays in Black is an international campaign that has historically united people who believe in the fundamental importance of respecting all human life without discrimination. Wear Black on Thursdays to show your dedication to eliminating all forms of violence

In 2006 the TWFG will be expanding TIB again out further into our communities, with regionally focussed merchandise and campaigns, as well as reaching out to high schools and community groups to support the campaign. The NWRO is looking into different forms of merchandise to add to the campaign this year, such as caps, wrist bands and bags.

Contact your local Students Association or get in touch with the NZUSA National Women's Rights Officer:

Analiese Jackson
Phone (04) 498 2500
Fax (04) 473 2391
Cell 0274 868675
Email: nwro@students.org.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 10-191, Wellington

 

THURSDAYS IN BLACK MERCHANDISE:

 

Text on Back:

 

Why wear black on Thursdays?

 

Wearing black on Thursdays indicates that you are tired of putting up with rape and violence in your community. It demonstrates a desire for a community where we can all walk safely without the fear of being beaten up, verbally abused, raped, of being discriminated against due to your sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender or ethnicity. It shows that you want to be free.

Taitae ki roto I te Pango – Me tono he ao waimaire

 

(Or)

Na te aha I mau I pango I te taitae?

I te wa I mau  koe I te pango I te Taite I whakatauira koe I to ngenge mo nga mea pawhera me nga mea whakarekereke I roto o tenei ropu iwi. I whakaae koe I tetahi Ao ora.  He ao pai mo nga hikoi aheia, kaore I wehi ki nga patu, ki nga korero patu, ki nga pawhera, ki te whakapainga kanohi ki nga takatapui, mo te patu mo to torangapu, to ira tangata me to tikanga.  Ka whakaatu to pirangi mo te waimaire.

 

Tees
Hanes Fitted (Men’s/Unisex)
Bonds Fitted (Women’s)
Beefy T Shirts (Loose fit)

Long Sleeved Tees
Long Sleeved (Loose fit) Similar to Beefy T style
Bonds fitted long sleeved top (Unisex)

Hoodies
Aurora Hoody (Loose fit)

Singlets
Thin strap singlets (Women’s)

Badges also available
Currently looking into caps, bags and wristbands.
Images of products here...