While the government wanted to convince the society that solving the problem within the family is the best solution, data proved the contrary.

The violence in 92% of the cases follow the same pattern of the vicious circle – with time the incidents only increase in lethality and frequency, while between them the partner apologizes and promises to change. We decided to translate the data gathered by researchers (Blue Line – Polish Help Line for Victims of Home Violence) into the medium that most often carries men’s apologies: the collection of flowers.

The “I’m sorry” flowers collection reflected the whole cycle of violence, where every flower was named after offences corresponding to different abuse – from verbal threats to killing the partner. The controversial collection was designed to bring up one question, in context of denying women every external help: is “I’m sorry” of the oppressor really enough?

Just before the Women’s Day, when the men usually buy woman flowers, the „I’m sorry” flower collection was introduced to journalists and several flower shops across Poland to gather social support for the cause. Then the flowers were composed into bouquets telling true stories of abused women, who were repeatedly asked for forgiveness by their oppressors. We gathered true stories of women from The Center of the Women Rights Foundation, and translated them into bouquets – each flower corresponded to different abuse, and each represented the incident the abused women was asked for forgiveness by the partner. On March the 8th 460 „I’m sorry I’m alive” bouquets were sent to each of 460 members of Parliament, asking them if „I’m sorry” is really enough and calling to bring back the funding for Center For the Women’s Rights.

-The unusual flower collection was broadly discussed by media. In 48h our call for support reached over 5 million people (5,4 M earned media impressions). On March the 8th more then 10 thousands of women went out to the streets to protest against government decisions.

- Bringing back the funding for Center for The Women Rights became one of the 4 official postulates of International Women Strike.

-A week after, Parliament Members decided to bring up the case of the funding for The Centre for The Women’s Rights. The official interpellation is now being proceeded by Polish Parliament.

- The support from the society was so positive, that the regular „I’m sorry” collection, the new brand of flowers to say sorry for everyday matters and rise funds for victims of home violence, was successfully introduced to the biggest on-line flower shop (kwiatowaprzesylka.pl) and to 1146 flower shops across Poland