REDCAR & Cleveland Borough Council is once again supporting the White Ribbon campaign, which asks men to sign up and pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about domestic abuse against women.
The White Ribbon campaign started on Wednesday, November 25, and will run for 16 days to promote awareness and encourage more people to sign up and help spread the campaign’s good work.
Councillor Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Health & Housing, said: “The White Ribbon Campaign is a great initiative to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the role men can play in putting a stop to it.
“Sadly, too many people are subject to domestic abuse and live scared in their own homes. Hopefully this campaign will see men take a stand and spread the message that domestic violence is not acceptable.”
The lights on the Redcar Beacon will be changed to white for two weeks and the White Ribbon Flag will fly from the council’s flagpole outside Redcar & Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart as a sign of support.
As well as pledging support, men and boys are encouraged to wear a white ribbon for one or two weeks after the awareness day to show that they are committed to ending violence against women. White Ribbons will be available from the Civic Heart and Redcar & Cleveland House and Belmont House receptions for a suggested donation of £1.
Domestic abuse statistics show that 70 per cent of incidents result in injury, and on average, two women in England and Wales are killed by a partner every week and one man every three weeks.
White Ribbon aims to work with other organisations within the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) to change these statistics.
Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: “Violence against women and girls remains a top priority for me and my PCC colleagues regionally and I wholeheartedly support the White Ribbon campaign.
“It is vital that everyone in our communities takes a stand against domestic abuse which can ruin lives and have massive implications for our neighbourhoods. So it would be wonderful if men and boys across Redcar and Cleveland could demonstrate their support – and play a vital role in reducing domestic abuse – by signing up to the campaign and by wearing a white ribbon.”
To pledge your support to the White Ribbon Campaign visit the council’s website www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/whiteribbon. Alternatively you can visit www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk.
