You have the power to change the story: an interactive campaign for 25 November 2022

Presentation of the new campaign launched by the Women’s Rights Committee, attended by Céline Cottalorda and Frédéric Genta (centre), the actors, the press and representatives from the member organisations of the Committee. © Government Communication Department – Michael Alesi

The Women’s Rights Committee presented its new campaign for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on 25 November each year, at the Extended Monaco offices.

Having reminded the audience of the aim of the day, which seeks to raise awareness about violence against women, Céline Cottalorda, the Chief Women’s Rights Officer, said that “2022 was sadly marked by many instances of violence committed against women around the world.In Monaco, it is our responsibility to be vigilant, well-informed and mature regarding this subject. And so this year, we wanted to involve more men and encourage them to make a practical commitment stand up against violence.”

The 2022 campaign is intended to be interactive and educational, putting the audience in the position of someone who can help a woman experiencing abuse. The idea is to prompt people to think about their own capacity for action through the message: You have the power to change the story.

“By taking three situations from everyday life as our starting point, we wanted to show that there are simple things that we can do, that are within our power, to help a victim, and remind people that taking action against abuse starts by no longer ignoring it,” explains Céline Cottalorda.

We meet Marc, a work colleague of Lucie, who is a victim of abuse, Henri, Lucie’s neighbour, and Manuel, an acquaintance of the perpetrator. All three of these men have the power to change the story.

The campaign is being rolled out via three different media channels: 

• Three interactive videos, available on the website www.changezlhistoire.com , where viewers can choose a character and make decisions that will help the victim.
• A short, fictional film to be broadcast on Monaco Info and on the Committee’s socials from Thursday 25 November.
• A poster campaign throughout the city and in the Fontvieille shopping centre.

There has also been a focus on how digital tools can help to share details of the support and information services available for victims of abuse. This resulted in some joint work being done with the Digital Transition Office. Frédéric Genta, Country Chief Officer for Attractiveness and the Digital Transition, declared himself “delighted to be working for this wonderful and worthy cause, and to be supporting the Committee in its activities. These tools can also help to combat these vectors of injustice.” This work has resulted, notably, in the publication of information aimed at the general public and healthcare professionals via the Monaco Santé portal. Monaco has also joined the community of countries using the App-Elles personal safety app.

In another new feature for this year, there is the option of wearing a white ribbon on 25 November to show support for the campaign to prevent violence against women. The ribbons will be available to collect for free from the following information stands:

• La Condamine market from 9 am to 2 pm on 23 November
• Fontvieille shopping centre from 9 am to 5 pm on 24 November

As was the case last year, these stands will help to raise public awareness and communicate information about the services available in Monaco to support the victims of domestic abuse. They will be manned by the government departments which help to provide support for victims and the associations which are members of the Committee. The white ribbons will also be available on 25 November from bakeries in Monaco (Epi d’or, Costa and Mullot), which are once again working with the Committee.

Céline Cottalorda emphasised the importance of this mobilisation, which reaches further and wider each year, and offered her warm thanks to all of the associations and institutional partners involved, as well as the actors who took part in the campaign on a voluntary basis.

Information on the Committee’s website: www.dfm.mc

Useful and emergency numbers:

Fire and Emergency Service: 18 or 112 | Police: 17

Free and anonymous information line, available 7 days a week: 0800 91 90 10

Association for Support to Victims of Crime (AVIP): www.avip-monaco.org | 93 25 00 07