#PutOnPurple for TELL on December 10th and Show Your Support for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
What?
At TELL, we are asking you to #PutOnPurple on December 10th, to show your support for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
When?
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
How?
Wear something purple, (you could be clad head-to-toe in one particular shade, wearing all the different purples you can find, aiming to stand out or be subtle, maybe even dressing as a famous purple character), and make a donation of ¥500 per person to TELL.
If you want, (and we would LOVE it if you did), share a photo of your purple exploits on social media and tag TELL and #PutOnPurple.
Tag TELL:
Instagram and Facebook: @telljapan
LinkedIn: @telljapan
Twitter: @TELLJapan
Why?
One in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence, very often perpetrated by an intimate partner or someone known to them. Violence is a human rights violation, with myriad immediate and long-term consequences, not only for the women affected, but also on our societies. Violence negatively affects women’s general well-being, impacts families and communities, and the country at large with financial implications, from greater strains on health care to legal expenses and losses in productivity.
Cost?
Donate ￥500 Yen per person and wear your purple proudly to raise awareness of gender based violence — your support matters!
FAQs:
What should I wear?
Whether you put on purple from head to toe or you sport your purple where no one can see it, how you choose to interpret the brief is entirely in your control. Want to live a day as Barney? Go wild! Always fancied being Daphne from Scooby Doo? Now is your chance! Layer on the lilac or show off in all the shades of purple you can lay your hands on – whatever works for you, we look forward to seeing a passion for purple spreading across the homes, schools, offices, parks, gyms and supermarkets of Japan on December 10th!
I don’t have any purple clothes. Can I still take part?
We want as many people as possible to be able to participate and we want it to be as easy as possible for you to join us in making a stand for women’s safety. If you don’t have any purple clothes, maybe you have some purple eyeliner, or nail polish, a purple ribbon or a purple chopstick you can wear in your hair, some kind of purple accessory or bag, purple laces…We want you to be able to participate in a way that fits your style and your life. Wear one shade of purple or sport them all in a glorious purple parade – we are excited to see what you come up with!
Why purple?
The colour purple has long been associated with women’s rights, being one of the colours worn by those campaigning for women’s suffrage in the early 20th century. Purple signifies justice, loyalty and dignity, something campaigners continue to press for as women seek equality across societies and sectors.
The international day for the elimination of violence against women falls in the middle of Japan’s annual Purple Ribbon campaign and TELL’s 16 Days of Activism against GBV campaign. Purple is also the awareness colour for the elimination of violence against women so in putting on purple, you are indicating your support for this cause and potentially starting a conversation with others bringing attention to the issue.
Can I participate as an individual?
Yes! We welcome independent champions showing up in support of the safety of women!
Can we participate as a group?
Yes! Get together with your schoolmates, coworkers, friends, sports teams, family members, church congregation, regulars at the coffee shop – wherever you find people keen to #PutOnPurple, raise awareness of the issues of violence against women and girls and say “enough”, we salute you!
Can kids participate?
Yes, there is no age limit on participation. You might need to modify what you say about the issue of VAWG to match your audience, but any and all participation is welcome!
Why only women and girls? I don’t like violence being perpetrated against anyone.
Right – violence against any group or individual is not something we support and we want people of all genders to be able to live safely. November 25th is the date recognised by the General Assembly of the United Nations to highlight elimination of violence against women, so this is the group we are amplifying this time as we kick off our 16 Days of Activism against GBV campaign. If you want to show support for other specific groups, please adjust your event accordingly. At TELL, while the #PutOnPurple event is highlighting violence against women, any funds raised will support TELL’s mission to provide world-class, effective support and counselling services to Japan’s international community as well as helping to address the country’s growing mental health care needs and are thus not limited to solely supporting women and girls.
Do I get TELL goods if I join the event?
No, we are not producing or providing swag or prizes for this event. We want any money raised to go to supporting TELL’s mission and to providing services – not paying for postage, goods and trophies.
Why should I give you money to wear my own clothes?
Obviously you get to wear your own clothes without paying a penny for the privilege any day. By donating up to 500 yen to participate in #PutOnPurple, we hope that you want to show your support for building a safer society, providing a safety net and supports for victim-survivors of GBV and make a statement that this is a real issue that you believe matters. By donating your money, you help us:
TELL’s services:
TELL Lifeline and Chat
TOLL-FREE 0800-300-8355
Anonymous, confidential support, every day. Click here.
TELL Clinic
03-4550-1146 (Tokyo) 050-4560-1082 (Okinawa)
Professional counseling and children’s psychological assessment. Click here.
TELL in the Community
View and join TELL’s events in your area, greater Japan, and online workshops today. Click here.
TELL @ Work
Mental health matters everywhere – even in the workplace. Learn more as an employee and as an employer. Click here.
How do I donate?
You can donate any funds raised using the donate link.
Where will my money go?
Any funds raised from #PutOnPurple will go to support TELL’s mission, supporting the lifeline, TELL Counselling, Outreach and our ability to provide these services. Any proceeds are not limited to projects supporting women and girls. Your contribution goes directly to supporting our NPO’s mission to improve lives, promote mental health, and create a more compassionate community.
I want to participate but 500 yen is a lot of money for me. Can I still take part?
We want participation and showing your support for the elimination of violence against women to be accessible. 500 yen is the maximum amount we are asking for each individual to donate, so anywhere between 1 yen and 500 yen supports the campaign. Within that range, think about what is comfortable and manageable for you – we appreciate your willingness to show up for a safer society and are grateful for your donation.
Can I donate more than 500 yen?
If you want to donate more than 500 yen, then you can donate other amounts via the donation link. If you are interested in becoming a TELL sponsor, then please see the sponsorship page or contact [email protected].
Where can I learn more about 16 Days of Activism?
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/16-days-of-activism
Where can I learn more about International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?
https://www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day
Where can I learn more about Human Rights Day?
https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day
Can I get more involved with TELL?
Join an event, take part in Tokyo Tower Climb in 2025, sign up for our monthly newsletter, take a QPR gatekeeper training, tell your school, workplace or community group that you want to learn more about mental health/suicide prevention/active listening/bystander intervention/supporting survivors etc etc and take one of our community trainings, become a lifeline support worker, join the board or keep an eye on job vacancies and join our team, set up an event/fundraiser of your own.
I’m worried about my own safety/the safety of someone I know.
If you are worried about your own safety, either due to thoughts and plans you have, or you feel you are at risk from someone else, then there are places you can get help. Some of these resources may also be useful if you are worried about someone else and their safety and wellbeing.
| Category | Service | Phone Number | Website |
| Emergencies | Police | 110 | |
| Fire Service/Ambulance | 119 | ||
| Non Emergencies | Police Advice | #9110 | |
| Medical Advice | #7119 | ||
| Helplines | TELL Lifeline | 0800-300-8355 | www.telljp.com |
| Yorisoi Hotline | 0120-279-338 | https://www.since2011.net/yorisoi/en/ | |
| Federation of Inochi no Denwa | 0120-783-556 (J) | https://www.inochinodenwa.org/#free | |
| Counselling | TELL Counselling | www.telljp.com | |
| IMHPJ (International Mental Health Professionals Japan) | https://www.imhpj.org/ | ||
| Medical Information | AMDA (Association of Medical Doctors Asia) | 03-6233-9266 | https://www.amdamedicalcenter.com/ |
| Medical Information Network | https://www.iryou.teikyouseido.mhlw.go.jp/znk-web/juminkanja/S2300/initialize | ||
| Domestic Abuse | DV Soudan+ | 0120-279-889 (J) | https://soudanplus.jp/en/index.html |
| Spousal Violence Counselling and Support Centres | |||
| DV Consultation Navi | #8008 | https://www.gender.go.jp/policy/no_violence/e-vaw/siensya/pdf/center_e.pdf | |
| Sexual Exploitation | Colabo | https://colabo-official.net/ | |
| PAPS | 050-3177-5432 | https://www.paps.jp/?lang=en | |
| Sexual Violence | National One Stop Support Centres | #8891 | |
| Curetime | https://form.curetime.jp/en | ||
| Child Protection | Child Guidance Centres | 189 | https://lightson-children.com/en/social-care/report-child-abuse/ |
You can find more information and services through wikitell – our information database.