White Ribbon Day marked at Three Rivers District Council's HQ
A national campaign to end all men’s violence against women and girls was marked at Three Rivers District Council by a flag-raising ceremony.
Officers at the council raised the White Ribbon flag at Three Rivers House on Friday, 24 November, to highlight the global campaign, which intends to challenge attitudes and behaviours that lead to inequality and abuse towards women and girls.
Last month, the council was White Ribbon accredited and aligned itself with White Ribbon UK, the leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls.
This means the council will deliver a comprehensive multi-year plan to transform staff culture, systems and the wider community in which it operates in order to eliminate attitudes and behaviours that lead to violence.
White Ribbon Day kicked off on Saturday 25 November. And so, the council will be supporting the annual campaign’s 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence - known as ‘violence against women and girls' – with other organisations across Hertfordshire.
The council, along with other members of Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership, will be raising awareness through several events scheduled and postings on social media throughout the 16 days.
A cake sale will be happening at the Healthy Hub in Bridlington Road, South Oxhey, on Thursday 7 December, 11am – 4pm – to raise money for the Herts Mind Network Domestic Abuse service. All cakes will be between 25p and 50p.
The 16 days will also be marked with buildings around the county being lit orange on Monday (27 November) as part of the United Nations ‘Orange the World’ campaign to end violence against women and girls.
Joanne Wagstaffe, Chief Executive of Three Rivers District Council, said: “We are proud, as a council, to be White Ribbon accredited and to join in the global fight to end male violence against women and girls.
“We sadly live in a world where this type of violence exists – and that is why the council will do everything it can on its part to end this unacceptable violence and abusive behaviour.”
Jo Fisher, Executive Director of Children’s Services at Hertfordshire County Council and chair of the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Executive Board, said: “I’m proud that we are working together to tackle the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls harms us all, and support is available for those subjected to it as well as those who are looking to make positive changes in their own behaviour.”
PHOTO CAPTION 1: Three Rivers District Council officers holding the White Ribbon flag at Three Rivers House.
PHOTO CAPTION 2: Three Rivers District Council officers wearing orange to mark the 'Orange the World' campaign.