Page 3857 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006
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strong advocates for the eradication of violence against women. That is what White Ribbon Day is all about—the total elimination of violence against women. It will be marked by a combined event in Garema Place this Saturday, 25 November.
White Ribbon Day was initially established by a group of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of the massacre of 14 women in Montreal by one man. Thus began the campaign to urge men to speak out against violence perpetrated on women. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared 25 November the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, IDEVAW, and the white ribbon became symbolic of that day. The date 25 November was chosen in commemoration of the lives of the Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic, who were assassinated in 1960 during the Trujillo dictatorship.
The white ribbon campaign is the first mass international campaign focusing on and bringing awareness to society that the use of violence against women and children is not acceptable. In the ACT and internationally, the majority of victims of domestic, family and sexual violence are women and girls, and by far the majority of perpetrators are men.
White ribbons are worn by all to encourage men to speak out against violence towards women and as a personal pledge by men not to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and children. I have a load of ribbons in my office, if I have not already sent them out to everybody, and I encourage all staff and members to purchase and wear one on the day.
Sadly, Australian research has shown that more than one million Australian women have experienced violence during a relationship. According to the ABS personal safety survey of this year, 40 per cent of Australian women have experienced at least one incident of physical violence or sexual violence from the age of 15. This means that almost everyone knows someone—a mother, daughter, sister or friend—who will at some point be a victim of physical or sexual abuse. In 2004, men and women across Australia wore 200,000 ribbons and in 2005 approximately 250,000 ribbons were distributed. White Ribbon Day encourages global recognition of the issue of violence against women and girls and respect for the equal role and rights of women in society and raises awareness of gender-based violence.
The event this weekend will take place in Garema Place between 10 and 2. It is coordinated by the Domestic Violence Prevention Council and will feature music, a barbecue, entertainment, information, white ribbons, of course, and balloons. Mr Gentleman will launch the day at 11 am and has organised for 75 Trussme National Capital Rally cars to drive through Garema Place between 11.30 and 2, all fitted with white ribbons. Canberra Raiders players will be there and the Australian National University Choral Society choir will perform at 12 noon. There will be an opportunity to enter a raffle and to ride in a rally car with a rally champion, with all proceeds going towards UNIFEM’s white ribbon campaign.
In conclusion, if we are to end violence against women, it is essential that every member of our community, male and female, is part of the solution. I urge you all to join me and show your support to ending gender-based violence by wearing a white ribbon on 25 November.
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