Listening first: New campaign highlights strategy to support domestic abuse survivors

Vodafone Foundation has introduced a new campaign emphasising the importance of listening as a means to support survivors of domestic abuse.

Globally, one in three women experience domestic abuse. Yet, when confronted with a disclosure of abuse, many individuals remain unsure about how best to respond. Bright Sky – a website, app and widget – aims to bridge this gap.

Created in partnership with UK-based crisis support charity, Hestia and Hope After Harm, Bright Sky provides practical support and advice for anyone concerned about domestic abuse. It is now live in 13 markets and has 1.5 million downloads.

In line with the message of the campaign, Bright Sky advocates listening as a fundamental strategy for those supporting domestic abuse survivors.

Recognising that listening can be challenging when someone we care about is sharing something difficult, Bright Sky recommends several techniques. These include posing open-ended questions, refraining from interruptions, and allowing for silence, all of which foster an environment of trust and empathy.

In addition to listening, Bright Sky outlines five key actions to take when supporting someone experiencing domestic abuse:

Speaking about the importance of the campaign’s message, Lisa Felton, Director of Vodafone Foundation, said: “Many people worry that they have to be an expert on domestic abuse to support to those experiencing it. The Bright Sky app aims to bridge this gap by offering clear guidance on how to help and highlighting that actions as simple as listening to a survivor can make all the difference”.

Launching in November, in support of the UN-led ’16 Days of Activism’ campaign – a global initiative fighting against gender-based violence – the campaign begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25^th November) and concludes on Human Rights Day (10^th December).