Bury’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

It’s also known as White Ribbon Day and campaigns to end male violence against women.

The day raises awareness of the fact that women and girls around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence, and other forms of violence.

It also marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence which aims to tackle all domestic abuse, whatever the gender.

From 25 November until 10 December, men are being asked to wear a white ribbon and pledgenever to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.

Support for men suffering from domestic violence and abuse is also available.

The theme of this year’s campaign is #AllMenCan and is asking everybody to get the message out that male violence against women and girls must end, and that all men can make a difference.

It follows the murder of Sarah Everard which brought women’s experience of male violence to the forefront of everyone’s minds. It also opened up many conversations about men taking action and making a stand.

National statistics for survivors of abuse show that:

• 87.8% had experienced emotional abuse and 66.6% had experienced jealous or controlling behaviour
• 6.7% of survivors going into refuges, and 34.8% of survivors using community-based support, had experienced surveillance, harassment or stalking
• 54.8% had experienced physical abuse, while the number was much higher at 67.2% for those who had gone into refuges
• 16% of service users using community-based support had experienced sexual abuse; this was much higher for those using refuge support (27.6%)
• 50.7% in refuges, and 30.5% of community-based support users, had experienced financial abuse

Organisations will take part in events and show support for the global White Ribbon campaign and ‘make the promise’ that all men can put a stop to male violence against women and girls.

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for communities, said: “Bury Council and our partners are taking a stand against domestic violence.

«Domestic abuse can happen to anyone but it’s women in particular who are most affected».

«This issue is present all year round and we never stop campaigning. However, it is important to mark this period with events, presentations, and a special effort to speak to family, friends and co-workers about why we must take a stand against domestic violence and abuse».

Bury’s Community Safety Partnership, which oversees work to reduce domestic violence and abuse, is currently consulting on a new Community Safety Plan which sets out how the partners will reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, including a new approach to tackling domestic abuse. For the opportunity to view and comment on these plans please visit:

www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/community-safety-strategies

White Ribbons are available from White Ribbon UK

Support

• Advice from the NHS
• Local provider safenet.org.uk
• Women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support
• Talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife
• Men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 8pm, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm) for non-judgemental information and support
• Men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
• If you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support
• You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit
• In an emergency, call 999