Also the Men’s Development Network. Thanks to Sinead.
About White Ribbon
What is the White Ribbon Campaign?
White Ribbon is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women.
White Ribbon Ireland is a non-profit organisation and Ireland’s only national, male-led primary prevention campaign to end men’s violence against women.
Through primary prevention initiatives and an annual campaign, White Ribbon Ireland seeks to change the attitudes and behaviours that lead to and perpetuate men’s violence against women, by engaging boys and men to lead social change.
In particular, White Ribbon Ireland’s unique Ambassadors’ Programme wants thousands of men to be the faces and leaders of the campaign, by living the White Ribbon Committment: never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
International White Ribbon Day celebrates the culmination of the annual campaign and global recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. As such, men and women are encouraged to wear a symbolic white ribbon on 25th November.
White Ribbon Day (25th November) also signals the start of the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Men’s Violence against Women, which ends on Human Rights Day (10 December).
Why is the work of the White Ribbon Important?
Intimate partner violence is the most common type of violence against women, affecting 30 per cent of women worldwide, according to the 2013 World Health Organization report Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.
And Ireland is not immune.
Violence against women is a serious problem in Ireland.
The impact of violence against women is widespread and long-standing, generating profound personal, social and economic costs for individuals, communities and the nation.
How did White Ribbon start?
On the afternoon of 6 December 1989, a man walked into the École Polytechnique University in Montreal, Canada and massacred 14 of his female classmates. His actions traumatised a nation and brought the issue of violence against women to the forefront of our collective consciousness.
Two years later, a handful of men in Toronto decided they had a responsibility to speak out about and work to stop men’s violence against women. As a result, the White Ribbon Campaign in Canada became an annual awareness-raising event, held between 25 November and 6 December.
In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with a white ribbon as its iconic symbol.
White Ribbon began nationally in Ireland with its launch by The Other Half on November Xth 2010 in Dublin
The Other Half is an alliance of three national men’s and women’s organisations, SAFE Ireland, the Rape Crisis Network Ireland and the Men’s Development Network. www.theotherhalf.ie
In 2012, The Men’s Development Network with the support of Rape Crisis Network Ireland and Safe Ireland took on the responsibility to promote the White Ribbon Campaign nationally in Ireland.
Vision
All women live in safety, free from violence and abuse.
Mission
To prevent men’s violence against women in Ireland, through a male-led campaign.
Goal
To change attitudes and behaviours that allow all forms of men’s violence against women to occur.
Strategic Priorities
- Primarily engage men’s leadership in the White Ribbon Campaign.
- Continue to grow a strong and sustainable organisation.
White Ribbon Ireland
The White Ribbon Campaign in Ireland run nationally by the Men’s Development Network is a registered company under the Corporations Act 2001. White Ribbon Ireland’s Board ensures compliance with the organisation’s and th campaign’s vision, mission and objectives, and guides the development, execution and modification of the organisation’s and campaign’s strategy.
White Ribbon Ireland’s national office is situated in Waterford.
Primary sources of funding are government grants, philanthropic trusts, White Ribbon merchandise sales, and national and community-based fundraising events.
White Ribbon Campaign Internationally
White Ribbon Ireland is just one of many national Campaigns for White Ribbon. While each Campaign is run independently and there is no official global structure, the global Campaigns work to the same goal; to prevent violence against women by empowering men as positive role models. Please see the link below for more details of the White Ribbon Campaign internationally.