Minutes Pledged
Pounds Raised
In a world where countless women are silenced, “A Moment of Silence” stands in solidarity. This initiative is dedicated to supporting women globally who lack a voice—whether they are silenced by oppressive laws , victims of abuse or coercive control in their own homes, or those who feel they lack the confidence to assert their place in a male-dominated world.
Initially, we planned to unite women in a sponsored silence to symbolise our collective struggles and show women across the globe we stand with them. However, we realised that the last thing any woman needs is more silence.
So, this initiative is a deliberate yet carefully considered call to arms for men to take stock of their place in the world and raise awareness in solidarity with women everywhere, by pledging their time and taking a moment of silence.
By participating, men can help amplify the voices of women who have been silenced for too long. This initiative invites fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, male cousins, male friends, and male colleagues to pledge their time and financial support to women’s issues.
Participating in “A Moment of Silence” is simple and impactful. Here’s how you can get involved:
Decide how much time you want to pledge for a moment of silence. You can choose from:
Visit our just giving page to make your financial contribution corresponding to the time you’ve pledged.
Donate Now
During your pledged time, take a moment to reflect on the experiences of women who lack a voice. Share your experience on social media using the hashtag #AMomentOfSilence to raise awareness and encourage others to join.
Follow our updates to see how much money has been raised, how many minutes have been pledged, and how the funds are being used to support women globally.
Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to participate. The more people involved, the greater the impact we can make together.
Several countries have highly oppressive laws against women, severely restricting their rights and freedoms.
The treatment of women in these countries highlight the urgent need for initiatives like “A Moment of Silence” to support and amplify the voices of women who are silenced by oppressive laws and societal norms.
In the UK, women face various forms of discrimination and inequality, despite
significant progress over the years.
Here are some key areas where women experience discrimination:
The UK has declared violence against women a national threat, with entrenched patriarchy and rising misogyny contributing to the issue.
Women in the UK earn, on average, 19.8% less than men. This gap is even wider in certain sectors and for women of colour.
Women hold only 28% of leadership positions in FTSE 100 companies.
Women hold 34% of the seats in the House of Commons, which, although an improvement, still shows a significant gender imbalance.
Women are often unequally represented in the media, impacting public perception and reinforcing gender stereotypes.
Women spend significantly more time on unpaid care work compared to men, which affects their economic opportunities and career progression.
It will take an estimated 136 years to close the global gender gap.
Women earn only 51 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Women hold just 27% of parliamentary seats and 28% of management positions.
Women spend 2.3 more hours per day on unpaid care work than men.
“A Moment of Silence” is more than just a charity initiative; it is a movement to bring about real change. By encouraging men to reflect and contribute, we can create a world where every woman has a voice. Join us in this mission to support and empower women across the globe.
Funds will be raised in the first phase to support the Global Fund For Women. The Global Fund for Women supports gender injustice to create meaningful change that lasts beyond our lifetimes.
Only 1.9% of all charitable donations are made to organisations dedicated to women and girls. And Black feminist social movements get even less—smaller than 0.5%!
envisions a world where movements for gender justice have transformed power and privilege for a few into equity and equality for all.
Founded over 30 years ago to fill a critical gap in funding for local women’s rights organisations. Today, they are the leading funder of gender justice organisations, initiatives and movements worldwide.
Join us to help change the status quo.
Read more about Global Fund for Women here:
I’m Vanessa, MD and Founder of a B2B tech marketing agency in the UK. I established ‘A Moment of Silence’ driven by my passion for equality and my role as a proud mother of two daughters
The catalyst for this initiative was sparked by a conversation with my girls about the new “vice and virtue” laws in Afghanistan. Enacted by the Taliban in September 2024, which makes it illegal for women to speak in public and punishable if heard singing or reading aloud from within their homes.
When discussing this with my daughters, I was struck by one daughter’s poignant question:
This simplicity yet power of this question really struck me.
Sadly, there’s little I can do. It made me feel helpless. Then I tried to think about how, even at a distance, we could stand with women everywhere who are silenced, in whatever form that takes. It could be the women in Afghanistan or women closer to home who fear for their safety simply walking alone after dark or a friend who lacks the confidence to speak up for themselves for fear of rejection or retaliation.
Initially I considered a sponsored silence to show solidarity. I knew I’d only have to ask my female friends and they would support the initiative, but I quickly realised the importance of engaging not just women but also men in this cause. Thus, ‘A Moment of Silence’ was born, encouraging men to pledge their time and attention to the plight and inequality of women worldwide.
The butterfly logo symbolises the impact of small actions, inspired by the butterfly effect, which suggests that even a small occurrence can influence a much larger system, much like a butterfly’s wings potentially causing a typhoon.
Imagine that.
#amomentofsilence
