Many thanks to all who responded to our call to support the White Ribbon campaign, the worldwide effort to end violence against women, by signing our online petition.

By wearing a white ribbon, a man is making a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. Wearing a white ribbon is a way of saying, “Our future has no violence against women.”

On 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon announced a Network of Men Leaders. These men will act as male role models in a campaign opposing violence against women.

Mr Ban urged all men to join the campaign, saying about 70% of women experience some form of physical or sexual violence from men.

Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, the secretary-general called on men and boys around the world to join the campaign.

“Break the silence,” he said. “When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act. Advocate. Unite to change the practices and attitudes that incite, perpetrate and condone this violence.”

He said men must teach each other that real men do not violate or oppress women – and that a woman’s place is not just in the home or in the fields but in schools, offices and boardrooms.

Violence against women takes many forms:

• Physical violence against spouses and girlfriends – from hitting right up to murder
• Sexual violence – usually committed by a boyfriend, husband, trusted adult, or family member
• Emotional abuse — sexual harassment at work or on the street, stalking, jokes that demean women, and controlling behaviour
• In some countries, there is violence in the form of genital mutilation of girls and trafficking of girls and young women into prostitution.

AWARE has organised White Ribbon Campaign activities since 2004.

Find out more about the White Ribbon Campaign: http://www.whiteribbon.ca/