Solace, a leading specialist charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, is calling on people to recognise signs of emotional abuse this Christmas and to donate to receive their very special Maya decoration.
The charity has launched their 2024 Christmas campaign #IseeMaya, by creating a unique decoration Maya who represents all the women who are silenced or vanishing from their social networks and friendship groups due to emotional abuse.
‘Emotional abuse affects one in two women and at least 85% of the women we support’ says Nahar Choudhury, Solace CEO. ‘The lasting impact and trauma of emotional abuse is often overlooked in the context of violence and abuse, but we see firsthand how controlling behaviours such as belittling, silencing and gaslighting can not only be some of the early signs of potential physical and sexual abuse but can be devastating in themselves’.
‘We’d love to see our Maya decoration on trees in offices and homes around the country showing support for women experiencing domestic abuse. After all, we all know Maya. We work with her, we’re friends with her, and many of us are her’.
Solace supports nearly 20,000 women and girls across London every year and currently has nearly 1,000 women and children in their 22 refuges. Bunmi came to a Solace refuge after fleeing an abusive relationship and she told us:
‘I was scared for my life, I had no choice but to run. My ex-partner abused me physically, sexually, psychologically and emotionally. I was so confused, and I no longer trusted my own instincts. That’s what emotional abuse can do. They abuse you and then make you believe that it is your own fault. That you are causing the abuse. It took time and support from Solace for me to see that I was never the problem. Abusers abuse because they choose to. It’s as simple as that.’
Nahar adds, ‘The work we do at Solace is life changing and lifesaving and sadly more than two million women are estimated to face violence perpetrated by men each year in an epidemic so serious that police chiefs have recently called it a “national emergency”. We’ve been supporting women for fifty years now and we’d need to find a way to end violence against women and girls. We wholeheartedly hope that the public get behind this campaign and donate for Maya and for all women and girls. Together, this Christmas we can create a safer future for all’.
About Solace:
Solace is a leading specialist charity in the UK supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence. Whatever form violence comes in, from rape to trafficking to relationships based on psychological or financial control, we work to end it. We know that escaping the effects of violence can be the hardest thing to do. That’s why the lifesaving support that Solace provides to nearly 20,000 women, children and young people each year is so important.
Website | www.solacewomensaid.org
Instagram and X | @SolaceWomensAid
Facebook | /SolaceWomensAid
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