Each
week, two women in the UK are murdered by a partner or a former partner. YWCA
Scotland worked with young women volunteers to develop a way of highlighting
this and came up with the idea of using shoes to represent and bring to mind
the 104 women who die. 
The
104 Pairs of Shoes Campaign is a national awareness raising campaign
on Men’s Violence Against Women. They invited well known Scottish Women
to donate a pair of their shoes and a quote on why they supported the campaign,
Shoes were donated by politicians, celebrities, writers, singers, actors, business
women, sports personalities and ordinary women. What emerged was a moving and
thought provoking exhibition.The exhibition was launched in November 2002 as
part of the 16 days of activism for the elimination of violence against women.
Noteable
Scottish women from many fields were represented, with MSP Sarah Boyack, Horse,
Rhona Cameron, Nahid Aslam (Lochend YWCA,) and J.K. Rowling among those representing
the East Coast. There were donations from Women's Aid groups from Scotland to
the Borders. MSPs such as Margarent Curran and Wendy Alexander represented the
world of politics; Horse and Annie Lennox the world of music; Michelle Mone (frequently
seen on "The Apprentice: You're Fired!") for business, Elish Angiolini
and Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer Fiona Winchester, for law, and Daniela Nardini,
Siobhan Redmond, and Elaine C. Smith for the stage and screen.
Each pair of shoes had a photo of the owner by it with a
comment about violence against women and a comment about what the shoes meant
to them. We couldn't help noticing that pain and discomfort caused by the shoes
was a common theme.South Leith Parish Church had the brilliant idea of bringing the event, which has toured some 50 venues throughout Scotland, to Leith as part of the Leith Festival. The shoes were spread throughout the church, which made a reflective and thought provoking setting. Seeing the shoes placed around the War Memorial, was especially moving.
YWCA Scotland web site >>>
Scottish Women's Aid >>>
South Leith Parish Church >>>