MENU

25 Shoes / 25+ Cities

A Global Art Call to END ​violence against
Women in Iran, Afghanistan, and Across the Middle East

To honor November 25, 2025 — International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

​


FAQ​

 

👠 The History of the Red Shoes Installation

The Red Shoes installation was first created by Elina Chauvet in 2009 in response to the wave of femicides in Ciudad Juárez, her hometown in Mexico. It was a deeply personal act—born from the grief of losing her sister, who was killed by her husband.

Elina placed 33 pairs of donated red shoes in a public plaza, each representing a woman whose life had been taken. With no posters or words, the installation spoke volumes.

Since then, this silent protest has sparked a global ripple effect—with over 80 red shoes installations across North America, Europe, and recently Africa—raising awareness about gender-based violence and empowering communities to take action.

👠 What is the 25 Red Shoes / 25+ Cities Campaign?

The 25 Red Shoes / 25 Cities campaign is an invitation to people around the world to stand in solidarity with women in Iran, Afghanistan, and across the Middle East—especially those who cannot protest or speak freely in their own countries.

Each participating city selects a sister city in the region and hosts a red shoes installation in a public space—usually 25 red shoes—to give voice to the voiceless: women facing violence, silencing, or oppression—whether in their homelands or as refugees abroad.

This campaign builds on Elina Chauvet’s original vision and extends it globally. It is a call to transform mourning into meaning and silence into collective resistance—through art, story, and public presence.​

👠 Why now?
Because when the world is in crisis, women face the greatest danger behind closed doors. History has shown us—whether during
the COVID-19 lockdowns or in times of war—gender-based violence surges in silence. As the threat of war escalates across the Middle East, the risk to women’s lives intensifies. When the noise of conflict dominates the headlines, it becomes even more urgent to center the voices that are being silenced. This is precisely the moment to speak, create, and act. From mourning to meaning, from silence to solidarity.​

👠 Why are we focusing on Iranian, Afghan, and Middle Eastern women?
These regions have been marked by systemic violence against women, including femicide, gender-based violence, and oppression.
The campaign gives voice to women who cannot safely protest in their own countries, offering a platform for their stories andstruggles to be heard globally. 
And the danger doesn’t end when they leave. Even in exile—as immigrants or refugees—many women continue to face cultural stigma, community pressure, and isolation, often in silence. Some remain under the control of abusive partners or families.
Others fear retaliation, shame, or being cut off from their communities.

By centering Iranian, Afghan, and Middle Eastern women, this campaign breaks the silence—not just over there, but here too.

👠 Why 25 Red Shoes?

​In the first 24 days of the Iranian year 1404,  25 women were murdered in Iran alone.
They were killed: By fathers. By brothers. By husbands.
At home. In counseling offices. At work. In the street.
By gun. By knife. By axe. By hammer.

Around the same time, we realized that this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women falls on November 25, 2025.

Although the original idea behind the red shoes installation is that the number of shoes reflects the number of women killed in a given city during the previous year, many countries like Iran and Afghanistan lack accurate statistics or real counts of such tragedies. Therefore, we chose the number 25 as a symbolic representation.

👠 How can my city participate?
Anyone, of any nationality, whether individual or group, from any city in the world, can join the campaign.
Phase I:​

• Fill out the participation form to get started.

• Join the WhatsApp group to connect with other participants and stay updated.

• Identify your city's chosen sister city from Iran or Afghanistan, and we’ll help match you.

• We will create a shared poster with your city’s information, including location, event details, and your logo (if you have one).

• We’ll merge multiple participants in your city to maximize engagement and resources.

• We’ll host two orientation Zoom meetings at different times to walk you through the project, answer your questions, share ideas, and discuss next steps.
   

👠 What will the installations include?
You may start with 25 red shoes, as an individual, just like Elina Chauvet did with her original installation, along with the date and city. Or you can go further by incorporating informative flyers, inviting musicians, doing interactive art, and much more.
Ideas will be shared at the orientation Zoom meetings, where you can get creative with your installation plans.
​

👠 What is the impact of this campaign?
The campaign aims to build global solidarity, engage communities in creative civic expression, and create tangible art pieces that support fundraising efforts. Funds raised will be donated to local and underground women’s shelters to provide safety, support, and resources for survivors of violence.
Additionally, the campaign shines a light on immigrant and refugee women here in the U.S., many of whom may not be aware of their rights or lack the courage to apply for support. The installations also help neighbors in our communities become more aware and supportive of these women’s needs.

👠 How can I help fund the campaign?
For now, you can donate through the general donation button on our website: www.iwiniwin.org
In the near future, we will have pins, postcards, and other materials available for sale to support the campaign.
​Stay tuned for more!
 

👠 Does Raising Awareness Really Change Anything
for Women in These Countries?
Raising awareness about every issue in the world is like filling a bucket, one drop at a time, until it finally overflows with impact. For women in regions like this, it sends a powerful message: We are here. We have your back. You can do this. We haven’t forgotten
about you. You matter. You deserve safety, security, and freedom, just like any other woman.

Raising awareness isn’t just about talking—it’s about bringing these critical issues to the surface again and again. The solidarity
behind this idea is incredibly powerful. It’s the first step in uniting women who have been burdened by patriarchy, culture, and
violence. Together, we can stand strong. This movement may go beyond awareness; it could be the foundation for a larger
network, one that connects women’s voices from the grassroots, for the grassroots, across the region. It’s about creating a force of change that inspires action and leads to lasting transformation.

👠 How do I contact the campaign organizers?
You can always reach us by email at hello@iwiniwin.org.
📩 hello@iwiniwin.org
📞 (510) 916-1913

👉 Click here to join the global movement.


from mourning to meaning, from silence to solidarity.