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NewsNOVEMBER ACTIVITIES All we can do is publish a fraction of the photos which we have received Amazing work has been undertaken by people taking action to raise awareness among men of Domestic Violence and how we can put an end to it. We will be including lots of new strands and case studies of great ideas on the website in order to encourage other even more groups and local authorities to take part next year. As well as the sheer quantity of 140,000 ribbons, leaflets and posters distributed there was increasing amount of activity in Sports, in Rugby clubs and Soccer clubs. This is a real breakthrough as many people pay more attention to their favourite sports personality wearing a ribbon than to the mayor or council leader. Media awareness is hugely on the rise too. If you Google White Ribbon Campaign and the name of a town now, you are much more likely to get a response about local activity than last year. In the last 4 months White Ribbon Campaign has been featured in 2 national newspaper interviews, 1 magazine, two regional TV slots and two radio interviews as well as countless local newspaper articles. A number of students are now working for White Ribbon Campaign as volunteers and in the New Year we are planning a substantial development of a Music and Clubbing campaign as well as consolidation of the Sports work. Flash Animation on the site and maybe a campaing using SMS texting. HALF A MILLION WHITE RIBBONS ORDER We sold out of virtually every type of ribbon and have reordered them. We are planning a very substantial order of around 500,000 ribbons for 2007, These will come in pre-printed non self assembly boxes. Scotland White Ribbon Campaign is now up and launched, and has 20 prominent Scottish men make statements in support of the campaign. In Peterborough the DART team involved the local football club as well as a number of young service users and produced a huge white ribbon to parade around the ground at half time. There was also a full page about the campaign in the programme. Salford managed our first Super league team, trying to keep up with the Australian White Ribbon Campaign which had White ribbon Campaign featured at the Tri Nations final between New Zealand and Australia.
Luke Robinson and fellow players showing support for the campaign Salford Reds Captain Malcolm Alker said, “Domestic violence should not have to be tolerated by anyone. We all have a responsibility to take a stand against this kind of abuse. Salford City Reds are proud to be supporting the White Ribbon Campaign” While in Rhyl they involved local soccer, rugby, gymnastics and New York Darts teams (see press release below)
The White Ribbon Campaign is part of 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence. November 25, International Day against Violence against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, symbolically link violence against women and human rights and emphasise that such violence is a violation of human rights.
The Chair of Denbighshire Domestic Abuse Forum Sylvia Jones requested that everyone “commit to the campaign and wear a white ribbon to signify support for the elimination of violence against women. It was significant that this campaign coincided with "Respecting Others week - Anti-bullying" which had the theme of "Bystanders" - getting involved will give a loud message that we must all be involved in tackling this crime against women." Forum members began raising awareness of the campaign in October by distributing information leaflets, posters and white ribbon’s to various agencies and businesses around Denbighshire. We should like to thank in particular the following for their support of whiteribboncampaign.co.uk; Conwy & Denbighshire NHS Trust (Midwifery & A&E Dept.) Denbighshire County Council; Kev’s Fun club; North Wales Police; Drug & Alcohol Service; Local Criminal Justice Board; Youth Inclusion Project and all the wonderful shoppers who came through the doors of Morrison’s, Rhyl on November 25th where we gave out over 1000 ribbons, and people very generously donated money for the children supported by local Women’s Aid groups. Not a Forum to do things by half, we took the opportunity to gain global support when forum member Neil Taylor visited his brother in New York. Just as in Rhyl, Monday Night is Darts Night in New York and Neil attended a match at a well known Greenwich Village Bar. The home team at The Kettle of Fish where Bob Dylan played 40 years ago entertained a team from Chelsea’s Flannery’s Bar. They are top teams in the New York Darts League A1 Division. Neil was taken there by his dart playing nephew Michael ‘Flying Eagle’ Taylor a five times Champion. He was introduced to both teams including Neil Dickson a top New York player who was inducted into the National Darts Hall of Fame in 2000. Neil Taylor said that he was impressed by the support given to the campaign in New York, a City known for violent crime. He added: “Many of the darts players will be wearing the White Ribbons I gave out on 25 November. As a Solicitor who has acted for the victims of Domestic Abuse and seen its consequences, battered and bruised women and young boys cowering when ever a man approached them. It is essential that men actively campaign to end male violence against women, only they can do it. If sportsmen in New York can do it then all men can do it.” Sports men and the Vale of Clwyd Trades Council around Denbighshire were also amongst others around the world making the difference in unmasking the hidden crimes of violence committed against women. Denbighshire Domestic Abuse & Personal Safety Forum called for all men to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence by men against women. The clubs who supported the campaign were Rhyl football club and Ruthin rugby club. Michelle Davidson Beck, the Denbighshire Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator stated, “I was really encouraged by the support we got from men involved with both Clubs, it demonstrates they are committing themselves to making a difference to all women they know. Men can speak out and intervene when our male friends and relatives insult or attack women. Liverpool came up with two Premiership football managers and over 500 stewards and staff all wearing white ribbons as well as police horses wearing white ribbons.
Bury managed three camera crews following a group of staff and police support officers around the town centre distributing leaflets and ribbons, as well as 180 students from the local college filling in questionnaires and receiving ribbons. Internationally the Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis both wore ribbons at the launch of the Council of Europe Campaign against Violence against Women. The campaign is going to last for 14 months until March 2008
This is a tiny fraction of what has been going on. Please keep sending in the material. It will be all sorted and available as Case studies on the website by the end of November |
