Danish NT speak out against Domestic Violence
National team yesterday joined with the Minister for Equality, Lykke Friis, in a campaign to say no to violence against women.
28,000 Danish women are annually subjected to violence by their current or former partner. The national team shows, with the campaign "Give violence against women the red card", that they are ready reject violence against women.
On the pitch there are clear rules. How should it be in homes. Therefore the campaign that has Daniel Agger, Thomas Sorensen and Simon Kjær as front figures urges everyone to give violence against women a red card.
"21,000 children grow up in homes where their mother is being abused. We hope to say stop to violence against women, "says national team's new captain, Daniel Agger.
With their participation in the campaign, the players help to throw light on a community problem that annually affects 28,000 Danish women and their children.
"It surprised me that there are so many women in Denmark who, every day, live in fear of getting hit. It is not okay. As footballers, we call for fair play in all aspects of life," says national team goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
Every year there are approximately 2,000 women who have come so much harm because of violence that they have to seek emergency help. Yet research shows that the figure is just the tip of the iceberg. Many women try to hide what they experience.
"It's not that the subject of violence against women is so taboo that we are not talking about it and there is no backlash. In football, there are clear rules. It is also needed in homes. Therefore we urge all Danes to give violence against women, the red card," says national team player Simon Kjaer.
Minister for Equality Lykke Friis has had a great academic and personal involvement in the genesis of the campaign, which has been in the pipeline for over six months.
Unfortunately, because of the restrictive rules that apply to ministers during election campaigns the minister was unable to watch the launch of the campaign together with the national team nor participate at the press conference Friday morning, when the campaign was launched.
DBU site
This is a really amazing campaign from the Danish NT and is good to see an NT trying to support such a good cause