Stand Strong: Women’s Aid, Allianz Insurance and the GAA come together to support women experiencing domestic violence.

2.30pm, Thursday 11th January 2024: Women’s Aid and Allianz Insurance are asking people across Ireland to take part in a powerful demonstration of solidarity and support for those subjected to abuse in February 2024. The GAA is hosting the launch and sharing it with the GAA community across Ireland. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness and essential funds for the thousands of women every year that contact Women’s Aid for support. It’s an action that requires no training or preparation. Just Stand Strong in the warrior yoga pose, donate or fundraise with colleagues, family, or friends, and share pictures on social media using the campaign hashtag #WAStandStrong. 

Speaking about Stand Strong CEO of Women’s Aid Sarah Benson commented:

‘’Showing solidarity with women, listening, and believing is a key part of our work, Stand Strong is a powerful but simple action to reflect that one in four women in this country lives with suffocating abuse from someone they once loved; someone they once trusted.  It could be anyone: your best friend; your sister; your colleague; your neighbour; your teammate; your mother; your daughter. Anyone. Last year women’s aid had our busiest year in our 50-year history. The Gardaí responded to over 54,000 to domestic abuse calls last year.  And we know these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.”

Ms Benson continued: 

“The Stand Strong campaign is designed with three simple actions – Stand Strong, Support and Share. It can be done in a group, with a team or club or by yourself. In your office or at home. By having as many people as take part, we aim to drive greater awareness of the issue of domestic abuse. By sharing and supporting the campaign we raise awareness and vital funds. Someone contacts us every five minutes and everything raised from the campaign really will support women across Ireland.”

To thank those who show their support, Women’s Aid are offering some exclusive campaign goodies such as retro sweatbands and temporary tattoos to people that sign up early via www.standstrong.ie and there is other campaign merchandise items on offer for top fundraisers. Due to the generous support of Allianz, all money raised will go directly to Women’s Aid supporting women subjected to domestic abuse. 

Speaking at the launch of Stand Strong 2024, Geoff Sparling, Chief Customer Officer with Allianz added:

“Protection is at the core of insurance, and Allianz’s purpose is securing people’s future, and giving them courage for what is ahead. We are delighted to support Stand Strong once again this year which supports the vital work of Women’s Aid. We want to inspire people across Ireland to take a moment out of their day to show solidarity, raise vital funds and raise awareness. We believe strongly that abuse is never acceptable, and we are committed to doing our part to spread that message.” 

Larry McCarthy, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthcleas Gael, speaking at the launch at Croke Park said:

“We are delighted to support Stand Strong and work with our partners Women’s Aid and Allianz Insurance. On the basis that we need to improve the circumstances of our daughters, our sisters, and our mothers, at the Annual GAA Congress we asked all our clubs to take the time to talk to their teams about respecting their female friends. It was a simple uncomplicated message, Respect Women.  The Stand Strong message is similarly uncomplicated.  We encourage as many people as possible, particularly GAA members, to take part.”

How to Participate:

  • Sign Up: Visit www.standstrong.ie to register and to access your campaign goodies.
  • Stand Strong: In the warrior yoga pose. There’ll be a livestream you can access from February 1st, but you can take the pose any time in February and wherever you like.
  • Support: Contribute to the cause by donating or sharing your fundraising page. 
  • Share: Take a picture of you standing strong in the warrior pose and share on social media using #WAStandStrong. 

www.standstrong.ie 

#WAStandStrong

Ends. 

Photocall details: 2pm, Pitchside, Croke Park: CEO of Women’s Aid, Sarah Benson, Geoff Sparling, Chief Customer Officers, Allianz Ireland and Larry McCarthy, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthcleas Geal will be available for photographs against the backdrop of the iconic Croke Park pitch.  Each person will hold a large prop to promote the Stand Strong Campaign. 

In the shot will be a group of club and intercounty GAA players standing in the Warrior Yoga Pose.

Press conference: CEO of Women’s Aid, Sarah Benson, Geoff Sparling, Chief Customer Officers, Allianz Ireland and Larry McCarthy, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthcleas Geal will address a press conference, 2.30pm at in Suite 686, Croke Park, Dublin 3.  The event will be MCed by Colin Regan, Head of Community and Health, GAA.

Photos will be made available to picture desks by Paul Sharp, Sharppix, by 3.30pm, 11th January 2024. Email paul@sharppix.ie or call 0866689087.

Media Contact: Christina Sherlock at christina.sherlock@womensaid.ie on 087 9192457.

Notes to editors/producers: 

  • About Stand Strong: Stand Strong is an initiative developed by Women’s Aid and Allianz Insurance which is committed to supporting women experiencing domestic violence in Ireland. Our mission is to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and provide resources to empower women facing these challenges. By standing together, we aim to create a movement of support and encouragement.
  • About Women’s Aid: Women’s Aid is a national organisation working to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse since 1974.  We do this by advocating, influencing, training, and campaigning for effective responses to reduce the scale and impacts of domestic abuse on women and children and providing high quality, specialised, integrated, support services. We operate the 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 and National Instant Message Support Service on www.womensaid.ie, mornings and evenings, 7 days a week.  The Women’s Aid 24-hour National Freephone Helpline is a free, non-judgmental, and confidential service that offers support to women subjected to domestic abuse including coercive control.  This includes emotional, physical, sexual, or economic abuse by a current or former partner.   It offers support in over 200 languages and is a gateway to local independent domestic violence refuges and support services. Women’s Aid also provides a number of regional face-to-face support services. 
  • About Allianz: Allianz Insurance has partnered with Women’s Aid since 2021 as part of their commitment to sustainability and desire to make a meaningful difference for society and the communities they serve. Allianz is the no.1 insurance brand globally, operating in more than seventy countries worldwide. They have been operating in Ireland for over one hundred years, with a team of over six hundred people that look after over 500,000 customers. For more information, visit https://www.allianz.ie/   
  • Why the Warrior Pose? The warrior pose symbolizes strength, resilience, and determination—qualities we want to emphasize in the face of domestic violence. We encourage participants to share an image of themselves in Warrior 2 pose on social media using the hashtag #WAStandStrong.
  • Statistics and Information: 
    • One in Four Women are subjected to domestic abuse in Ireland. 
    • In 2022 Women’s Aid heard 28,578 disclosures of abuse against women and 5,412 disclosures of abuse against children.
  • Support is available: