YWCA of Australia

In 2005, 77 prominent Australians contributed their shoes to YWCA's awareness raising exhibition, Seventy7 Pairs of Shoes, taking a stand against domestic violence. Each pair of shoes represented one of the 77 people who are, on average, killed by their intimate partner each year. This year some of the celebrities have taken the next step and donated their shoes to the YWCA's national anti-violence campaign.

In Sidney, YWCA NSW has partnered with Darfur Australia Network to organise an exhibition to raise awareness about the continuing tragedy in Darfur.

The YWCA of Darwin has hosted an array of daily activities including a walk, self defense classes, art and poetry displays and workshops.

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YWCA of Angola

The YWCA of Angola will host a seminar from October 14 – 21, 2007. The seminar is a skills building training on the elimination of violence against women. Based on a ‘train-the-trainer’ curriculum, participants will be equipped with skills to share their knowledge and empower women within their communities to recognise and respond to various forms of domestic and psychological abuse.

The seminar is organised in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid and women’s groups from local Christian churches.

YWCA of Argentina

The YWCA of Argentina will convene a seminar October 9, 2007, Stop Domestic Violence day, in anticipation of the Week Without Violence.

Experts will debate factors leading to violence and abuse against women. The objectives of the seminar are to help bring about change through education and awareness building.

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YWCA Canada

Last year more than 45,000 people in over 600 schools, workplaces and community organisations across Canada participated in YWCA of Canada’s Week Without Violence activities.

This year, over 30 local association will hold activities, including 16 association who will hold the Power of Being a Girl conference. Power of Being a girl conference was premiered in 2006 with great success. The community conference focused on their developmental needs meets the mandate of the YWCA Week Without Violence™ to prevent violence in the lives of girls and women. This year, 16 Member Associations will be hosting this signature event.

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YWCA of Finland

Many local YWCAs in Finland will participate in the YWCA Week Without Violence with planed an events for community members to trace their hands on piece of cardboard and write a peace message on it. These cardboard hands will be cut out and the peace messages displayed in libraries, markets and other public areas to remind community members of the gravity of violence against women and girls.

Local schools will also be encouraged to campaign against violence by organising lectures, discussions or seminars.

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YWCA of Puerto Rico

The YWCA of Puerto Rico will celebrate the Week Without Violence with a Walk-a-ton and some presentations by the Women's Commission and several partner organisations. The walk takes place on Saturday October 20. Community members are invited to participate by writing messages around violence against women on the fence of the YWCA of Puerto Rico.

YWCA USA

The theme for this year’s YWCA Week Without Violence activities in the USA is ‘Enough’. “We have had Enough!” the campaign states as it points at that violence reaches into cities and towns, schools, homes and workplaces affecting the entire community and undermining women’s quality of life.

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