The provincial house of North Holland, Paviljoen Welgelegen in Haarlem, will be illuminated in orange on the evening of August 26 to draw attention to stopping violence against women and girls.
The immediate cause is the murder of 17-year-old Lisa from Abcoude and other recent gender-related violence.
Arthur van Dijk, the Kings Commissioner in North Holland: “The violence that has affected Lisa touches us all deeply. It is an unimaginable tragedy. This must never happen. This must never become normal. Together as residents and as a government, we must show that there is no place for violence and that we protect and support each other, always.”
With this symbolic lighting, the province of North Holland wants to express its condolences and call for an end to violence against women and girls. Every woman and girl must feel safe and be safe. During the day, in the evening, and at night. Let women and girls be safe and return home safely. This is not just a womens issue, but a matter for all of us. Every day we must ask ourselves: how do I treat women? Am I standing up against sexist jokes, against injustice, against violence?
The color orange stands for dawn, the symbol of a bright future without violence against women and girls.