Content warning: this article discusses family and intimate partner violence. If you or a loved one is experiencing family or intimate partner violence, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732; 1800 FULL STOP on 1800 385 578; or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
One in three women around the world will experience violence inflicted by a partner in their lifetime. While harrowing, it’s not altogether unsurprising; at the time of writing, 53 women have died due to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Australia this year.
Whether it’s sexual, physical, psychological, or financial, intimate partner violence is typically endured in silence. Despite its widespread prevalence, family and intimate partner violence doesn’t often make for polite dinner table conversation, making it a lonely and isolating experience for victims. As part of its global ‘Abuse is Not Love’ campaign, YSL Beauty is working to combat intimate partner violence by partnering with and lending support to prevention and support services in over 25 countries.
Over a luncheon with a select contingent of media and friends of the brand, held at the well-appointed Shell House in Sydney, YSL Beauty unveiled its local partnership with leading specialist intimate partner violence service FVREE. A far cry from the ‘lipstick with a side of conscience’ approach often adopted by beauty brands supporting an important initiative, the event made no mention of a new formula or fragrance, with the only lipstick on display being guests’ own. Instead, YSL Beauty handed the floor to both FVREE and those who have experienced intimate partner violence, creating a safe and supportive space to share personal accounts.
Non-profit organisation FVREE has been serving the Australian community for almost three decades by supporting women and children experiencing family and intimate partner violence. Taking a holistic approach, FVREE provides primary prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery services targeted towards breaking the cycle of intimate partner violence.
In collaboration with FVREE, YSL Beauty is working to equip its employees and young Australians with the tools to identify potential signs of abuse and take action against intimate partner violence. While family and intimate partner violence doesn’t discriminate, affecting individuals across various demographics, women are the most at risk, with the highest rates seen among young adults aged 16-24. Through partnering with FVREE, YSL Beauty seeks to raise awareness about the key warning signs and put a stop to IPV at an early stage, ultimately creating long-term change in the nation.
“The prevalence of intimate partner violence in Australia is shameful and unacceptable,” says Christine Mathieson, CEO of FVREE. “We know that gender inequality is the main driver of intimate partner violence, and we need to change attitudes towards gender to stop violence before it occurs.”
Working towards this, FVREE’s IVP-focused training program, funded by YSL Beauty, is designed around three core pillars. The program comprises interactive workshops for local beauty advisors; internal training for YSL Beauty’s corporate employees; and external training programs to equip young Australians with the skills and confidence to respond to and take action against IPV in their community.
“It’s critical to work at an individual, community, and system level to make meaningful change,” notes Mathieson. “With partners like YSL Beauty taking a stand and supporting us to make a difference, we can really achieve our mission to see a world free from violence.”
YSL Beauty’s ‘Abuse is Not Love’ initiative launched in 2020 in Paris and has since evolved into a global movement. The campaign aims to fund critical academic research into IPV, train employees worldwide, and provide education on effectively responding to the issue by 2030.
Naturally, the financial investment into family and intimate partner violence is a crucial element of its prevention and eradication. However there’s an added power in having it come from a brand inherently associated with glamour and the beautiful things in life; by publicly lending its support to this cause, YSL Beauty is aiding in breaking down the social stigma surrounding the topic, carving out a space to discuss the ugly reality of IPV in an often filtered world.
For more information on YSL Beauty’s partnership with FVREE and the wider ‘Abuse is Not Love’ initiative, visit the dedicated website here.
Words by T. Angel
