SOLIDARITY FRIDAY INSTEAD OF BLACK FRIDAY: KANELA SUPPORTS THE LUZERN WOMEN'S SHELTER

The most important thing in brief

• On Black Friday, there are special offers and bargains for online purchases worldwide.
• We at Kanela decided some time ago to support disadvantaged people on this day – this year it is November 28th.
• For this reason, we call the day Solidarity Friday and will donate 10 percent of our daily sales from November 28th, 2025, to the Lucerne Women's Shelter.
• This facility is a safe space for women and children who are threatened, insulted, controlled, or beaten by their partners.
• Abused women or women forced into marriage also find help here.

Since 2004, intimate partner violence has been prosecuted officially in Switzerland – and domestic violence is widespread and often serious in this country. Police statistics for 2023 indicate approximately 20,000 cases, with more than 70 percent of the victims being female. In the same year, 25 people were killed in the home, including 16 women and four girls. By May 2025 alone, there were just as many female victims. And the number of unreported cases is significantly higher, as many incidents go unreported. Collecting data on psychological violence against women is even more difficult.

Women's shelters are often the last refuge

In the canton of Lucerne alone, the cantonal police are called out on average more than twice a day due to domestic violence. The number of serious crimes is increasing across Switzerland, and women's shelters are often the last resort for the women affected – and often their children – to protect themselves from domestic violence by their male partners.

Because funding for women's shelters is sometimes very precarious, as stated by the umbrella organization of women's shelters in Switzerland, resources are insufficient – ​​this also applies to staff. At Kanela, we believe that women's shelters are indispensable as institutions and safe spaces and must be supported more strongly. For this reason, we have decided to donate 10 percent of our total daily sales on November 28th, Solidarity Friday, to the Lucerne Women's Shelter.

Introducing the Lucerne Women's Shelter

The Lucerne Women's Shelter is – for the entire canton of Lucerne – the crisis intervention center for women and their children affected by violence, who receive accommodation, protection, and counseling here at a confidential address. In 2024, 72 women and 84 children found refuge here. The contact point can be reached around the clock at 041 360 70 00 or via the contact form.

Women experiencing domestic violence and wanting to change their situation can call here at any time, even anonymously. Often, the initial consultation can determine whether moving to a women's shelter is the right step or whether other services are more appropriate. In the women's shelter itself, women affected by violence and their children can find peace and quiet in a safe space and plan their next steps. They receive support, advice, and guidance from professionals. Residents, with or without children, live in a shared apartment and share chores. This helps with returning to an independent life, as does the interaction with other residents. The shelter is friendly and modern, and is tailored to the needs of women and children of all ages.

There are still too few women's shelters

The number of women's shelters worldwide is still significantly too low – and unfortunately, this also applies to Switzerland. According to the Istanbul Convention, there should be at least one family room (for a woman and at least one child) per 10,000 inhabitants. In reality, however, Switzerland, like many other European countries, does not even meet a quarter of this recommendation.

But there are also positive developments: Starting in the canton of Zurich, where more comprehensive data collection is taking place, the cantons and the federal government have begun networking through their respective justice and health authorities. The goal is to establish better victim protection and prevent domestic violence more decisively than before.

And across Switzerland, the situation at women's shelters is improving too slowly, but at least the trend is in the right direction: Since 2019, when there were only 18 women's shelters, four more have been added. The Lucerne women's shelter was established in 1984, and the costs of accommodation are usually covered by the victim support service or the municipality of residence. By shopping at Kanela on November 28th, you can directly support the Lucerne women's shelter.

Support the Lucerne Women's Shelter through Solidarity Friday!

Join us and order your groceries from Kanela, especially on November 28th! We will forward 10 percent of our total daily sales directly to the Lucerne Women's Shelter. The aid funds received through Solidarity Friday will, of course, be used for the intended purpose.

If you would like to support the women's shelter beyond Solidarity Friday, please donate to the Association for the Protection of Abused Women Lucerne (account CH42 0900 0000 6001 6234 9) or directly to the women's shelter. Or show your commitment and solidarity against violence against women and children and become a member of the association. You can find out more here.