19 NOVEMBER

White Ribbon campaign 2007 underway

Police, construction workers, musicians, scuba divers, office workers and other men from all walks of life, begin wearing white ribbons this week to show their support for efforts to end violence against women.

White Ribbon Day (25 November) is the international day marking efforts to eliminate violence against women.

As part of its work to raise awareness and prevent family violence, the Families Commission provides much of the funding for the resources used by the many organisations that support the White Ribbon campaign

Community groups, government agencies and individuals from throughout the country have requested over 400,000 ribbons for use during a week of events leading up to White Ribbon Day on Sunday.

Chief Commissioner Rajen Prasad says “By wearing a white ribbon men show their respect for women. Tomorrow, over 100 men will gather in Wellington’s Civic Square to show their support for the campaign and to be photographed for next year’s White Ribbon poster.”

The recent New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey 2006 found that 26 percent of women can expect to experience violence by a male partner during their lifetime. New Zealand has extremely high rates of family violence. Each year, around 3,000 men are convicted for assaulting a woman, 14 women are killed by a male member of their family, and police attend 70,000 family violence incidents.

“By pinning on the ribbon, men show they do not support, condone or commit violence against women.” he said. The Commission encourages men to use the White Ribbon campaign as an opportunity to challenge attitudes and behaviour that are abusive toward women.

“No violence within families is acceptable. We are role models for our children and it is our responsibility to make sure they grow up expecting respectful, positive relationships in their lives,” he said

ENDS

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