Flintshire Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Forum (part of the Flintshire Community Safety Partnership) will be at Asda Queensferry this Friday, 25 November, to raise awareness about the issue of domestic abuse and to mark White Ribbon Day 2011 – the international day for the elimination of violence against women.
The DA & SV Forum, together with many partner agencies and local councillors, AMs and MPs, will be present at the event. Information will be available for members of the public and the forum will be asking people to wear a white ribbon to show their support.
The first White Ribbon Campaign was launched in 1991 by a group of men in Canada after the brutal mass shooting of fourteen female students at the University of Montreal.
When comparing violence committed by woman and by men, the British Crime Survey notes that the results of men’s violence is five times as likely to require medical attention. Women are four times as likely as men to fear for their lives, and three and a half times more likely to be murdered by a male spouse than vice versa.
Some forms of violence have a greater physical or emotional impact than others but all forms of violence contribute to the very real fear and suffering that women in our society endure. The basic rights that most men enjoy – safety in their homes, ability to go out at night, a job free from harassment – are a source of fear for women in much of the world.
Violence against women causes more deaths and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war.
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge that you ‘will never commit, condone or keep silent about acts of violence against women’.
If you would like to support this campaign by wearing a white ribbon, or would like further information, please contact the Flintshire Community Safety Partnership on 01352 702590.
