The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins today with the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’.
Lambeth Council has compiled a report emphasising it should be “Perpetrators, and not victims and survivors” who “have their behaviour… challenged and are held to account for their actions.”
Today also marks the start of the ‘White Ribbon Campaign’. The main focus this year is on what men can do to help end violence against women.
United Nations UniTE Campaign to end violence against women. Source: UN
What men can do
One organisation that specialises in what men can do with this issue is Men at Work.
The company specialises in speaking to young men and encouraging positive behaviour from an early age. They open up a space to have difficult conversations about masculinity.
CEO of Men at Work Michael Conroy says, “The goal is to empower young boys to think about what it means to ‘be a man’. Acknowledge the problems with this and change the norm so its ultimately safer for both men and women.”
The issues of symbolism
Mr Conroy believes that events such as The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women are important for awareness surrounding the issues. These symbolic events may be used by the system as a quick fix rather than any materialistic changes being made.
He explained that with material changes being made, the symbolic events would be made redundant, and that’s the end goal.
#Allmencan
White Ribbon are a charity that focus on how men can take action and end violence against women.
The #allmencan is the focus this year following the murder of Sarah Everard. The event brought women’s experience of men’s violence to the forefront of everyone’s minds. Whilst this event brought the issue to the forefront of society – recent data revealed how prevalent the issue is.
What the data says
The most recent crime survey from the ONS shows that a quarter of women (5.1 million) in England and Wales had experienced abuse before they were 16. Data provided by the survey highlight just how common this abuse is at such a young age.
The ONS report states around a third (32%) of women over the age of 16 have experienced at least one form of harassment in the last 12 months.
HeadlineMen urged to play role in ending violence against women
Short HeadlineMen urged to help end violence against women
StandfirstA report by Lambeth council states focus should be on how men can help end violence against women, rather than victims' actions
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins today with the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’.
Lambeth Council has compiled a report emphasising it should be “Perpetrators, and not victims and survivors” who “have their behaviour… challenged and are held to account for their actions.”
Today also marks the start of the ‘White Ribbon Campaign’. The main focus this year is on what men can do to help end violence against women.
United Nations UniTE Campaign to end violence against women. Source: UN
What men can do
One organisation that specialises in what men can do with this issue is Men at Work.
The company specialises in speaking to young men and encouraging positive behaviour from an early age. They open up a space to have difficult conversations about masculinity.
CEO of Men at Work Michael Conroy says, “The goal is to empower young boys to think about what it means to ‘be a man’. Acknowledge the problems with this and change the norm so its ultimately safer for both men and women.”
The issues of symbolism
Mr Conroy believes that events such as The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women are important for awareness surrounding the issues. These symbolic events may be used by the system as a quick fix rather than any materialistic changes being made.
He explained that with material changes being made, the symbolic events would be made redundant, and that’s the end goal.
#Allmencan
White Ribbon are a charity that focus on how men can take action and end violence against women.
The #allmencan is the focus this year following the murder of Sarah Everard. The event brought women’s experience of men’s violence to the forefront of everyone’s minds. Whilst this event brought the issue to the forefront of society – recent data revealed how prevalent the issue is.
What the data says
The most recent crime survey from the ONS shows that a quarter of women (5.1 million) in England and Wales had experienced abuse before they were 16. Data provided by the survey highlight just how common this abuse is at such a young age.
The ONS report states around a third (32%) of women over the age of 16 have experienced at least one form of harassment in the last 12 months.
