White Ribbon Ambassador announced

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Media release

Embargoed from publication until 1pm Tuesday 15 September 2009

White Ribbon Ambassador announced

The Families Commission is pleased to announce Ruben Wiki as the first White Ribbon Ambassador. Ruben will be actively raising awareness of men’s violence against women as part of White Ribbon Day.

White Ribbon Day is held each year on 25 November and is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. In New Zealand most violence by men against women takes place in the home – each year an average of 14 women are killed by their partners or ex-partners and more than 3500 convictions for assaults on women are recorded each year.

As the first White Ribbon Ambassador, Ruben will be using his public profile to speak out against family violence and encourage men to put a stop to violence against woman.

Ruben explains, “I am not a family violence expert, however I grew up in a house where my mother was beaten by her partner (not my father) and I know how scary that can be. I want to do what I can to help make sure this doesn’t happen to other mothers and children.”

Statistics released in the Family Violence Statistics Report 2009 report show that one in three women will experience partner violence at some point in their lives.

As a husband, and father of two, Ruben says he is always aware that he is a role model for his children. “As men, what we can do to help, is to speak up when men say or do things that we wouldn’t want our sisters, wives or children to experience. We need to say it’s not OK. If we come across violence in our families or our friends’ families, we need to be able to assist them to get help. At the same time people need to know it’s OK to ask for help.”

Last year more than 500,000 New Zealanders pinned on white ribbons to register their personal commitment to standing up against violence and over 100 communities held events to raise awareness.

“As a White Ribbon Ambassador I want to help men realise that violence against women is not OK and that we, have a duty to our families, our friends and our whānau to stand up, acknowledge the problem and begin to change,” says Ruben. “By wearing the white ribbon I’m saying that I will not commit, condone or remain silent about violence towards women. I’m issuing a challenge to every man in our country to wear a white ribbon and make this pledge.”

“Men must accept responsibility for their abusive behaviour” says Families Commissioner Bruce Pilbrow. “Men must also lead the change so that woman can live free from violence and fear. If we want other forms of violence to end, men need to show leadership. While Ruben is the first ambassador, a further five prominent New Zealand men will be announced to take up the challenge and encourage change,” says Bruce.

The launch of the ambassador programe is being held at Friendship House in Manukau city where more than 160 people seek help each day visiting services or attending courses, which include the ‘Living Without Violence Programmes for Men’. Vicki Sykes, Director of Friendship House says, “We welcome Ruben as an ambassador for White Ribbon Day and look forward to working with him to build his knowledge base as he commits to learning more about the issues and advocates for change”.

For further information on White Ribbon activities or logos and photos please visit the ‘get resources’ section at www.whiteribbon.org.nz

Editors Notes:

Key Messages:

• No violence within families is tolerable. If someone within the family is being frightened or intimidated by the behaviour of someone else, it is not OK. Violence isn’t just the physical, emotional or verbal behaviour used to control someone through fear. Things we say, or don’t say, contribute to the abuse

• White Ribbon Day is the international day when people, particularly men, wear a white ribbon to show they won’t tolerate, condone or remain silent about violence against women

• It originated as a men’s movement in Canada and is now part of the United Nations annual calendar (International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women). The Families Commission took a leadership role in New Zealand in 2006

• Whether you are a father, brother, uncle, granddad or cousin – we all want to keep our families safe. We all want our children to grow up and have happy healthy relationships

• By simply wearing a white ribbon you can make it clear to other men that you do not tolerate violence against women

• You can also make sure your home, your business or your sports club is a safe environment where abusive behaviour is not tolerated

• The White Ribbon Day campaign encourages men to talk openly about family violence, to support men who want to change their abusive behaviour and to challenge comments, statements and actions by men that are abusive

Statistics

• In New Zealand most violence against women takes place in the home

• In violence between couples, it is men’s violence that is most likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm

• An average of 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex partners

• There are over 3500 convictions recorded against men each year for assaults on women

• One in three women will experience partner violence at some point in their lives

The Families Commission works with multiple agencies and NGOs to coordinate the national campaign including: UNIFEM, National Network of Stopping Violence Services, NZ Police, UNICEF, YWCA, Women’s Refuge, Jigsaw, Barnardos, Amnesty International, Relationship Services, YMCA, ACC, Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Social Development, Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice

Funding this year has been provided by the Families Commission, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Social Development.

Friendship House:

Friendship House opened its doors in 1976 as a charitable trust governed by six church denominations. There are currently 19 paid staff, 12 volunteers and 18 Living Without Violence contractors. Friendship House is both a Community Centre and a Social Services Agency with over 160 people through the doors each day. Vicki Sykes is the Director of Friendship House, has worked in the field of family violence for many years and is available for interviews.

Ruben Wiki

Ruben played 55 test matches for New Zealand between 1994 and 2006, a rugby league record (as at April 2008). He captained the New Zealand national rugby league team in 18 of those tests and was the captain of the Kiwi team that scored an historic 24–0 win over the Kangaroos in 2005. This was the first series win since 1978 and the first time in 20 years that New Zealand had kept Australia scoreless in a test match. Ruben played for the Warriors from 2005 to 2008 and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2007 for his services to rugby league. He retired from league in 2008 and has since been focusing on his family and personal training business which he runs with his wife, Santa. Ruben has two children and recently appeared on Intrepid Journeys travelling to Laos.

ENDS

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