One-Woman Show Warned of Physical and Mental Abuse – San Diego Jewish World

Community Initiative Addresses Domestic Violence in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Event Overview and Objectives

On Sunday, November 2, a community gathering of over 100 individuals was held at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego to address the critical issue of domestic violence. The event’s primary objective was to dismantle the silence and stigma surrounding abuse, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Led by Naomi Ackerman, founder of the organization Advot, the program aimed to foster open dialogue and provide support for survivors, aligning with the global commitment to create peaceful and inclusive societies.

Key Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality

The event directly targeted the elimination of violence against women and girls, a cornerstone of SDG 5. By creating a public forum to discuss a typically private issue, the initiative worked to achieve Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

• La Mesa Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares emphasized the need to end the shame associated with abuse, reinforcing the goal of empowering survivors.
• The program’s core message, “No one deserves to be a victim,” promotes a culture of respect and equality.
• By bringing the issue to the forefront, the community actively challenged social norms that perpetuate gender-based violence.

Promoting SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Naomi Ackerman’s performance highlighted the severe mental and emotional health consequences of domestic abuse, addressing SDG 3, Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being. The distinction between physical and psychological abuse was a central theme.

• The one-woman show, Flowers Aren’t Enough, portrayed the lasting trauma of emotional abuse, including belittling and manipulation.
• Ackerman noted that while physical wounds can heal, “emotional abuse can become the voice in your head,” underscoring the long-term impact on mental well-being.
• The provision of resources and support contacts at the event represented a tangible step toward ensuring access to mental health support for those affected.

Fostering SDG 4 and SDG 16: Quality Education, Peace, and Justice

The initiative utilized an innovative educational model to promote a culture of peace and non-violence, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Advot, Ackerman’s organization, employs theater-based education to achieve these goals.

1. Educational Performance: The play, based on real stories and performed globally, serves as a powerful educational tool (Target 4.7) to raise awareness about the dynamics of abusive relationships.
2. Skill Development: Advot’s mission is to equip young people with communication and self-advocacy skills, fostering personal resilience and contributing to the prevention of violence.
3. Building Peaceful Communities: By encouraging dialogue and empowering individuals, the event helps build a more just and peaceful society, in line with the principles of SDG 16. The organization’s name, “Advot” (Hebrew for “ripples”), reflects its goal of creating lasting, positive change.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on domestic violence awareness connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing issues of violence, health, gender equality, and education.

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article highlights the severe health impacts of domestic violence, mentioning not only physical violence (“cuts and bruises”) but also the deep and lasting scars of “emotional abuse,” “belittling, name-calling and psychological manipulation,” which directly affect mental health and well-being.
   • SDG 4: Quality Education: The work of the organization Advot is explicitly mentioned as using “theater-based education to help young people build communication skills and self-advocacy.” This educational approach aims to prevent future violence and empower individuals, aligning with the goal of providing quality education for sustainable and peaceful societies.
   • SDG 5: Gender Equality: Domestic violence is a key issue within gender equality. The article focuses on a performance portraying a “young woman trapped in an abusive relationship,” reflecting the disproportionate impact of such violence on women and girls. The event’s purpose is to “end the shame surrounding abuse and supporting survivors,” which is crucial for achieving gender equality.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal aims to reduce all forms of violence. The community gathering described in the article is a direct effort to “confront the issue directly” and make the topic of domestic violence “not taboo,” contributing to the creation of a more peaceful and just society where violence is not tolerated in silence.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s focus, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.” The entire article is centered on this target, discussing an event and a theatrical performance designed to raise awareness and combat domestic violence, a primary form of violence against women.
   • Target 3.4: “Promote mental health and well-being.” The article emphasizes that “emotional abuse can become the voice in your head telling you that you are not enough,” directly addressing the need to recognize and treat the mental health consequences of abuse.
   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The community’s effort to have an “open discussion” and confront domestic violence is a foundational step toward reducing its prevalence.
   • Target 4.7: “Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote… a culture of peace and non-violence.” Advot’s mission to use “theater-based education to help young people build communication skills and self-advocacy” is a direct implementation of this target, equipping youth with the skills to foster non-violent relationships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that could be used to measure progress:

   • Number of awareness-raising initiatives: The event itself, which gathered “more than 100 community members,” serves as an indicator of community engagement and efforts to combat domestic violence.
   • Reach of educational programs: The performance of Flowers Aren’t Enough has been “staged more than 2,500 times across seven continents” and “translated into Arabic, English, Hebrew and Spanish.” This number serves as a direct indicator of the scale and reach of educational efforts on the topic.
   • Availability of support services for survivors: The article mentions that “Resources and support contacts were placed on each chair.” The existence and promotion of such resources is an indicator of a system being in place to support victims, which is crucial for eliminating violence.
   • Public discourse and reduction of stigma: The stated goal to “make this topic not taboo” and “end the shame surrounding abuse” points to a qualitative indicator related to changing social norms and increasing open dialogue about domestic violence.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: sdjewishworld.com