Sunday November 25th is White Ribbon Day. This is the international day when men can choose to wear a white ribbon to show they don’t tolerate or condone men’s violence towards women. Started by a group of men in Canada in 1991, the White Ribbon Campaign was a response to the killing of 14 female students at Montreal University. In 1999, the United Nations officially adopted 25 November as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to not commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and children. The Human Rights Commission has more information on White Ribbon Day.
Sadly there is a great need for such a campaign. While domestic and family violence are at least widely discussed in communities, if not eliminated, there are other forms of violence which are not so widely discussed. Violence and abuse of older people is beginning to register on the collective consciousness, but violence towards disabled people in their homes barely rates a mention.
Hopefully this will change very soon. A coalition is being built between disabled people, the DPA, and the National Network of Stopping Violence. Perhaps as we approach this important date next year the issue will be firmly on the national agenda.
