Crown Princess Mary has opened a new Women’s Crisis Centre in Copenhagen on Friday, speaking out against violence against women and calling the problem ‘one of the biggest crimes against human rights.’
The Centre offers accommodation, counselling and support for abused women, particularly newborn mothers and pregnant women.
‘Too many women are exposed to violence from their partner. And too many children grow up in a home with violence – at home and in the rest of the world,’ the Crown Princess said.
Crown Princess Mary opened the new Danish Women’s Crisis Centre in Copenhagen on Friday, offering accommodation, counselling and support for abused women, particularly newborn mothers and pregnant women
‘Too many women are exposed to violence from their partner. And too many children grow up in a home with violence – at home and in the rest of the world,’ the Crown Princess said in a speech during the opening of the new crisis center for women at Danish Women’s Society
‘Violence against women is today one of the biggest crimes against human rights, and WHO estimates that every third woman is exposed to physical or sexual violence from their partner worldwide. It’s a tough and sad statistics.’
The Crisis Centre is supported by the Mary Foundation, the foundation of Crown Princess Mary, and will be one of the largest women’s shelters in the country, built to accommodate 20 women and their children.
Crown Princess Mary visited the new shelter and met two mothers and their children who were the first to use the centre and had come the day before to escape violence.
‘The opening here today is a further strengthening of work with the children and a strong signal that early action is given priority,’ the Crown Princess said.
Crown Princess Mary visited the new shelter (pictured) and looked at one of the rooms and met two mothers and their children who had come to the centre the day before to escape violence
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (right) brought a gift for the children in the center (pictured), a rucksack with toys from the Mary Foundation, which she gave to the Director of the Crisis Center, Lisa Holmgaard (centre) and manager for the new crisis center, Susanne Larsen (left)
‘Here, children and their mothers can find peace of mind, support and strength to create a life free of violence.
‘And in this way you support the individual woman and her children, thus contributing specifically to the realisation of world goals.’
The Mary Foundation offered backpacks to all the children arriving at a shelter as a way to remind children that they have the right to a safe childhood.
The Mary Foundation offered backpacks to all the children arriving at a shelter as a way to remind children that they have the right to a safe childhood
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was welcomed to the inauguration ceremony at the new crisis center for women at the Danish Women’s Society. Director of the crisis center, Lisa Holmgaard (pictured second from left) and manager, Susanne Larsen (pictured left)
‘The backpack is a reminder to the children that we see them and hear them, and that violence is never their fault,’ the Crown Princess said.
‘Too many women are exposed to violence from their partner … too many children grow up with violence,’ the Crown Princess said
‘It is normal that all children are entitled to a safe childhood. And it is a tool for the kindergarten staff to start the difficult conversation with the children about their experiences.
‘The little boy or girl who gets this backpack has had a hard start in life. With your help, he or she could create another future. A future without violence.’
In 2016 61 per cent of women who asked for a shelter at a crisis center was rejected due to lack of rooms and 37 per cent of their children had been victim of violence, the organisation said in a press release.
‘It is normal that all children are entitled to a safe childhood. And it is a tool for the kindergarten staff to start the difficult conversation with the children about their experiences,’ the Crown Princess said