Flags line River Liffey quays for the next 16 days to combat gender violence
Flags will line the quays of the River Liffey for the next 16 days as part of a campaign that combats gender-based violence.
The international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence began today and with the support of Dublin City Council the “One in Three” art installation has been installed along the river. Featuring UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women flags, these will remain in place until Human Rights Day on December 10.
An artistic collaboration between Women’s Aid, artist Louis Haugh, and the Council, the installation was proposed by People Before Profit Councillor Hazel de Nortuin. As a work that draws its design from the fact that one in three women have experienced domestic violence, this is a stark reminder of perils faced by women in modern society.
Using a reserved colour scheme, the flags make this reality visible in a powerful yet considered way. Each flag bears names that highlight the ways domestic violence affects women around the country and reflects the diversity of women living in Ireland today.
Cllr de Nortúin said: “This installation is a call to action. Violence against women is not an abstract issue—it impacts our communities every day. By making these stories visible along the Liffey, we hope to spark conversations and inspire change.”
Lord Mayor Cllr Ray McAdam also welcomed the installation and stated that violence against women is “an affront to everything we stand for as a city and community.”
“Dublin must be a place where every woman feels safe, at home, online, in our streets, and in every space that belongs to us all. This installation is a powerful and painful reminder that behind every statistic is a woman with a name, a family, a future. We owe it to them, and to one another, to reflect, to speak,” he said.
Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson highlighted the urgent need to address domestic violence in Ireland as her service responds to over 32,000 contacts and has heard almost 47,000 disclosure of abuse. She said these “staggering” figures are “only the tip of the iceberg.”
“We know that one in three women has experienced domestic abuse. Behind every statistic is a woman, a child, a family living in fear. We need a whole-of-society response: stronger protections, better resourcing for specialist services, and a cultural shift that says clearly that abuse is never acceptable."
The campaign aligns with UN Women’s global theme for 2025: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, highlighting the growing threat of online abuse alongside physical violence. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, reaffirming the urgent need for gender equality and safety in all spaces.
As part of the 16 Days campaign, the Dublin City Council Women’s Committee will host a meeting on 26 November with Darren O’Brien, founder of the UK’s Rail to Refuge scheme, which provides free train tickets to victims of domestic abuse seeking safety. The initiative has helped over 1,000 people escape violence and was recognised with an MBE in 2021.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme