Voorschoten Supports the “Is This Love?” Campaign
Many women and girls who are at the beginning of an unhealthy relationship have a gut feeling that something isn’t right. The “Is This Love?” campaign helps people recognize the signs of so-called “intimate terror” earlier and encourages them to talk about it. Voorschoten is supporting the campaign with posters and social media.
Intimate terror is a serious form of domestic violence characterized by a pattern of control and coercion. This can range from isolating, humiliating, or intimidating the partner to severe physical and sexual violence. It can also involve controlling the victim’s finances and making threats against the victim, the children, or pets.
It can happen to anyone
Intimate terror can happen to anyone, no matter where you live or what you study or do for a living. Women, men, and children can all be victims. Intimate terror can start subtly and escalate gradually. For women emerging from a relationship marked by intimate terror, it can even culminate in femicide. Because of the many possible warning signs in such a relationship, femicide is one of the most predictable forms of murder. Prevention therefore begins with identifying and addressing intimate terror.
Doubts about a partner's behavior
“We know that women who have concerns about their partner’s behavior often keep quiet about it for too long,” says Mayor Nadine Stemerdink. “It’s important to understand that what’s happening to you isn’t your fault and that there are people ready to help you. That’s why we’re going to put up campaign posters at City Hall and raise awareness on social media. I’m calling on schools, community centers, the library, sports clubs, family doctors, restaurants and bars, and so on to do the same and remove the taboo surrounding intimate terror.”
More information and free campaign materials
Would you like to learn more about the campaign? Visit www.veiligthuis.nl/isditliefde. Would you like to put up a poster? Ask for a free copy at the town hall reception desk. You can download additional campaign materials for free at https://isditliefde.veiligthuis.nl/toolkit.