Photo: Lille Santanen / Helsinki City
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Helsinki will take part in the UN’s Orange Days campaign to end violence against women by lighting the Havis Amanda statue orange and organising a silent candlelight march on 25 November 2025.
The city said the march, arranged with UN Women Finland, will begin at 17:00 from the western end of Esplanade Park and end with candles being placed around the statue. The statue will remain lit between 15:00 and midnight. Both events are open to the public.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of violence against women and encourage people to act against it. Orange symbolises hope for a future free of violence. The initiative begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December. The campaign’s patron in Finland is Suzanne Innes-Stubb, the spouse of the President of the Republic.
Mayor Daniel Sazonov said the city has a responsibility to address gender-based violence. “We want Helsinki to be a safe place to live for all residents. The city plays a central role in prevention and in advancing gender equality. Active intervention, stronger support services and preventive measures are key,” he said.
Research shows women in Helsinki feel less safe than men. According to the 2025 school health survey, around one in three girls in secondary and upper secondary schools reported experiencing sexual harassment or abuse. Combating gender-based harassment and violence is now included as a safety objective in the city’s new strategy.
Eurostat figures indicate that Finland is the most unsafe EU country for women, with 57 percent reporting physical violence, sexual violence or threats. Intimate partner violence affects one in three Finnish women, and when psychological abuse is included, more than half report having experienced it.
Statistics Finland recorded 13,000 cases of intimate partner violence in 2024, an increase on the previous year. Women made up 74 percent of adult victims, while 75 percent of suspects were men. Authorities note that most cases never reach official records.
To strengthen prevention, Helsinki has set up a dedicated working group that cooperates with organisations and authorities on domestic violence policy.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
