How you can support this year’s White Ribbon campaign

There’s just a couple of days to go until this year’s White Ribbon Day on November 25 which aims to raise awareness and work towards ending male violence against women.

As part of the campaign the day is followed by 16 Days of Action.

Last year in Carmarthenshire over 2,800 victims reported to the police, with a significant increase in referrals to specialist services reported in the last couple of months.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, a number of events to mark White Ribbon Day will not be able to take place such as the White Ribbon Walk in Carmarthen. During the pandemic it’s more important than ever that residents continue to show their support. This can be done in a number of ways, including by making the promise online to “never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.”

While domestic abuse affects both sexes, the largest number of violent incidents involve men against women.
But ultimately male violence against women is everyone’s issue, not just women’s.

Men can sign up to become a White Ribbon Ambassador and women a Champion and help promote awareness of the campaign and engage with men and boys to step up and call out violent behaviour among their ‘peers.’

Once again this year Carmarthenshire County Council will be showing its support by flying the White Ribbon flags at its council buildings in Carmarthen (County Hall), and town halls in Llanelli and Ammanford on November 25.

Cllr Cefin Campbell, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Community Safety and a White Ribbon Ambassador, said: “As a council we have supported the White Ribbon campaign for a number of years and I’m proud to say we’re doing so again. This year due to Covid-19 it’s more important than ever that we not only support but we raise awareness of the support that’s out there locally and nationally to those who need it. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse please don’t suffer in silence there is help out there. We can all play our part, from signing the pledge to becoming an ambassador or champion.”

Support and advice for anyone affected by domestic abuse is available by calling Live Fear Free on 0808 80 10 800. For local advice or how you can donate to their services you can contact Threshold (Llanelli) on 01554 752 422; Calan DVS (Ammanford) on 01269 597 474 and Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Service (CarmDAS) on 01267 238 410.

This year Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Service (CarmDAS) is working with shops to ask them to raise awareness of the campaign by displaying posters and balloons in shop windows and doorways and Threshold DAS is running a competition to explore what the White Ribbon means to people either through poem, art, photos or made from crafts. There are 3 different age categories – under 10s, 10-18 and 18 and over with prizes for each category. All entries to be emailed to enquiries@threshold-das.org.uk by December 10.

For more information on the White Ribbon campaign visit www.whiteribbon.org.uk