The annual White Ribbon 16 Days of Action campaign got under way yesterday (November 25)
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| Ruth pictured with NA Womens Aid Young voices group & council leader Willie Gibson |
The White Ribbon campaign is a worldwide movement set up and co-ordinated by men who know there is never an excuse for violence against women. They pledge never to condone it, or to stand by when they know it’s happening.
The North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership will begin its own 16 days of action with the launch of the North Ayrshire Violence Against Women strategy at an event which will incorporate presentations from Women’s Aid, “The Young Voices for Change” group and will conclude with Councillors being invited to sign ‘The Pledge’ to end Violence Against Women.
The launch will be followed by a calendar of new events and initiatives which will be delivered across North Ayrshire on each day of the campaign, giving local people the opportunity to get involved and sign “The Pledge”.
Some of the events organised include; a pledge signing with organisations such as the North Ayrshire Tornadoes and Balfour Beattie employees, a social media campaign and pledge signing stalls set up in various locations across the region.
The campaign will culminate with the annual ‘Reclaim the Night’ walk from Irvine’s Harbour Arts Centre to Bridgegate on Thursday, December 10.
Councillor Ruth Maguire, Chair of the Violence Against Women Partnership, said: “White Ribbon’s global campaign is so important because it recognises that violence against women is not just a women's issue and encourages men to take action.
“All of us - individual men and women, communities, governments and international bodies - have a responsibility to put a stop to Violence Against Women in all it's forms and to redress the suffering it causes.
“I am very proud of the support we have had here in North Ayrshire and look forward to welcoming new allies and supporters to the campaign this year."
