I like this a lot - colourful spin that inspires action on a very dark subject - violence against women sucks!

is this a project for 2009 or an ongoing 2008 one that i missed?

This campaign will run up until International Women's Day on the 8th March 2008. Thanks for your support.

Sian - do you mean 8 March 2009...?

Yes Sian meant March 2009!

Give women the freedom to make their own decisions and have power over their lives - power to say no and it be accepted, power to protect themselves with contraceptives. I put my foot down!

I agree that there should be action to prevent violence to women.

such an important issue. happy to be a part of raising awareness and in tiny way bringing about positive change

I have campaigned for the cessation of the War against Womon and Girls all of my life. I have spent a lifetime putting my foot down, I urge others to do so as well.
Viva the Womon and Girls of the World

It is so little to do - send an email, post a shoe........I am honoured to be asked to do so. Let's take the time to do this little thing for such a big thing.

I fully support the 'Put Your Foot Down' campaign but am concerned about the waste of shoes if only one is sent rather than a pair. The 2876 shoes will no doubt be sent to landfill, whereas 2876 pairs of shoes could be recycled and used by those in need. Footware is expensive and it seems a waste to throw them away. Having said that, 'better one than none!'

I fully support the 'Put Your Foot Down' campaign but am concerned about the waste of shoes if only one is sent rather than a pair. The 2876 shoes will no doubt be sent to landfill, whereas 2876 pairs of shoes could be recycled and used by those in need. Footware is expensive and it seems a waste to throw them away. Having said that, 'better one than none!'

We have received around 200 shoes into the office, and we are hoping to reach our total of 2876 with the "virtual shoes" petition here on the website. The shoes are going to be made into an exciting art installation by a young artist from the Young Creative Network (YCN), and will be exhibited at a number of events around International Women's Day and in the Department for International Development. We hope that the art work will find a permanent home. Otherwise we hope to send them for recycling, to an organisation that does fibre reclamation, as we don't want the individual shoes to end up in landfill.

Such a little thing to ask us to do. Lets hope we exceed the target

I'm off to the charity shop to buy a pair of shoes, maybe a girlie pair or laced old lady ones, one for me an one for my neice, the chatity shop gains and we can throw for action.

you may have thought buying a pair of shoes from the charity shop "not in the spirit" of the cause. I have been made redundant from work and only own the minimum amout of shoes necessary to my need. , This way I can still afford to take part in the action

I think this is fantastic Myra, campaigning is for everyone, not just those with bulging wardrobes and plenty of shoes to give away! And fantastic that you are getting your niece involved too!
Make sure you send your shoes in quickly though, as the artist is about to begin work on the sculpture!

ActionAid has recruited a talented young artist, Riitta Ikonen, to develop your shoes into a true work of art.
We've just delivered the first batch over to Riitta's studio in East London - you can see the pics here:
http://www.ycnonline.com/blog/show/57/Put-Your-Foot-Down

A campaign against violence against women need to incorporate a feminist perspective on gender-based violence!

We agree with Rani Lukita! Violence against women and girls is a symptom of their unequal status in society.
That's why we are a member of Women Won't Wait, a global coalition which is campaigning for the empowerment of women and an end to gender inequality, violence and HIV and AIDS.

LETS PUT OUR FOOT DONE TO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PREVENT WELL DONE ACTIONAID UR DOIN AN EXCELLENT JOB :D

i hope we exceed the target!