The
White Ribbon Campaign was created by a handful of Canadian men in
1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of 14 women
in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon Campaign to urge men to
speak out against violence against women. It is the largest effort
in the world of men working to end men’s violence against women.
It relies on volunteer support and financial contributions from
individuals and organizations. After only six weeks preparation,
more than one hundred thousand men across Canada wore a white ribbon.
Many others were drawn into discussion and debate on the issue of
men's violence. http://www.whiteribbon.com
In
1993, the United Nations General Assembly resolved “that violence
against women constitutes a violation of the rights and freedoms
of women ... that there is a need for a clear and comprehensive
definition of violence against women, a clear statement of the rights
to be applied to ensure the elimination of all violence against
women in all its forms, a commitment by States ... and a commitment
by the international community at large to the elimination of violence
against women” (Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against
Women). In December 1999, the 54th session of the United Nations
General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134 declaring November 25th
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women
In
2000, Australia’s the Commonwealth Government Office for Women has
organized around the United Nations General Assembly declaration
of November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). The White Ribbon has become the
symbol for the day. In 2003, the Australian branch of the United
Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, began a partnership
with men and men's organizations to make this a national campaign
and distributed ten thousand white ribbons. http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au
In
2007, Vera House sponsored its 13th annual White Ribbon Campaign.
their 2007 campaign from March 23rd through April 1st, over 42,000
Central New Yorkers wore white ribbons & white wristbands to
raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence. Vera House held
press conferences, launched a poster campaign, sponsored high school
and college activities and mobilized hundreds of volunteers to tie
white ribbons to mark the official start of the campaign everywhere
in town. http://www.verahouse.org/verahousearchives/08wrc.htm
WRC
Pakistan was launched in 2006 and has initiated countrywide discussions
about strategies for ending violence against women including ways
to educate young men, expand their campaign across the county and
develop partnership programs with local government. In September
2007, Pakistani White Ribbon Campaign released their first report
outlining the number of reported violent incidences against women
in Pakistan. WRC Pakistan also launched a powerful and comprehensive
website. http://www.whiteribbon.org.pk
The
University of Louiseville in Kentucky offers an example of how a
college/university has brought the campaign to their community.
Organized through their PEACC (Prevention, Education and Advocacy
on Campus and Community), center, the group relies on volunteers
to host rallies, forums and other activities to engage men in their
anti-violence work.
http://louisville.edu/peacc/news-and-events/white-ribbon-campaign.html
