Join Bolton Council in helping to prevent violence against women and girls.
Together we can prevent violence against women and girls.
White Ribbon Day, on 25th November, encourages men and boys to help change harmful attitudes and behaviours to prevent gender-based violence. We all need to do our part every day to promote positive culture change so that women and girls everywhere can live free from the fear of violence.
Violence against women and girls is not only a women’s issue. It means being accountable to ourselves and others by being an ally. It means taking responsibility for what you can change when you see or hear things that are not right.
'It starts with men' is the theme for White Ribbon Day 2024. Encouraging men to hold themselves accountable to women and to each other, so we can affect positive behaviour change to transform harmful cultures. Gender equality is key to making this culture change happen; and it is only achievable if men and boys understand and assume their responsibility as allies.
Why is the White Ribbon Day important?
The need for the campaign and ongoing work to around preventing gender-based violence is seen in the lived experiences of women and girls across the UK.
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70% of women in the UK say they have experienced sexual harassment in public. (APPG for UN Women, 2021)
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3 in 5 women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse in the workplace. (Trade Unions Congress, 2023)
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15% of women in England, and 17% of women in Wales have experienced online violence. (Professor Olga Jurasz, The Open University, 2024)
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Nearly a quarter (24%) of girls in mixed sex schools said they had experiences of unwanted sexual touching in school. (EVAW, 2023)
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1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023. (ONS, 2023)
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63% of men agree that men in society aren’t doing enough to ensure the safety of women and girls. (YouGov, 2021)
While the reality is that most violence against women is committed by men, whether that is a partner, ex-partner, colleague or stranger, we do recognise that not all men are violent. Men can also find themselves victims. For more information about the White Ribbon Campaign 2024, visit www.whiteribbon.org.uk
How you can support this years’ campaign
- Make The White Ribbon Promise – Visit Make the White Ribbon Promise — White Ribbon UK
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Wear the White Ribbon – The White Ribbon is the global symbol of ending men’s violence against women. Wear a White Ribbon to show your commitment to ending violence against women and girls. White Ribbons act as a conversation starter to encourage others to show their support too.
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Share the campaign messages – Look out for #ItStartsWithMen #16Days #MenAsAllies"#16Days #EndViolence and help to champion the key campaign messages.
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Share the Greater Manchester Campaign – #IsThisOK? - Greater Manchester Combined Authority
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Follow #IsThisOK? on social media – TikTok (external website) Instagram (external website) Facebook (external website) X (external website) YouTube (external website)
White Ribbon Day will launch 16 Days of Activism where the council will be working in collaboration with partners to deliver a full programme of activity. Find some available training, webinars and events below:
26 November, 12 - 12:45pm
White Ribbon UK in further education
Join this session to learn more about the positive impact that White Ribbon UK can have within universities, fostering positive culture change to support students and staff.
26 November, 1 - 2pm
Honour Based Abuse webinar
Join us on with Karma Nirvana on what employers need to know to respond to Honour-Based Abuse (HBA).
28 November, 4 - 5pm
Token Man x White Ribbon UK: Men’s Role in tackling male violence against women and girls.
Join this webinar to explore the role men, and wider corporates have in tackling men’s violence against women and girls.
4 December, 12 - 12:45pm
Partnerships with White Ribbon UK Webinar.
Join the Partnerships with White Ribbon UK Webinar to hear how your organisation can become a White Ribbon Accredited or Supporter Organisation, and foster culture change within your workplace and wider community
6 December, 6pm, Bolton Parish Church
Endeavour Candlelit Vigil and Christmas Concert
Join Endeavour in support of those experiencing domestic abuse and in memory of those who lost their lives. Refreshments available.