20,000 euros raised within 19 hours for campaign against sexual violence

In less than 24 hours, 20,000 euros were raised for a striking campaign against sexual violence.

The message "We claim the night, let women come home safely" should soon be visible along highways throughout the Netherlands.

The initiative was launched by media strategist Danique de Jong. She launched the campaign after a week in which multiple reports appeared about girls and women being victims of sexual violence, in some cases resulting in death. Another woman was also a victim of femicide.

According to De Jong, there's a danger that public outrage will quickly fade. "Everyone is angry and sad now, but after the weekend, people often return to business as usual. I want us to keep talking about it and to take action now," she told ANP .

After reaching the initial target in record time, De Jong decided to raise the bar to €35,000. The additional funding will ensure the message is displayed on even more digital highway masts and screens. She hopes this will not only increase visibility but also spark a broader public debate.

De Jong hopes that businesses, organizations, and municipalities will join the campaign. This way, the message can be spread further, for example, in cities and at train stations. "We need to offer perspectives for action, especially for men. Because this isn't a women's problem, it's a men's problem."

In addition to the public campaign, De Jong eventually wants to collaborate with experts and ambassadors. She aims not only to raise awareness but also to work towards structural change. This includes more awareness campaigns, education, and raising awareness about male behavior that leads to unsafe behavior.

The first masts with the message are expected to be installed in the coming weeks.

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