White Ribbon Day, 25 November, is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. White Ribbon Day celebrates the many men willing to show leadership and commitment to promoting safe, healthy relationships within families and encourages men to challenge each other on attitudes and behaviour that are abusive.
ln New Zealand most violence by men against women takes place in the home – with an average of 14 women a year killed by their partners or ex-partners. Each year there are over 3,500 convictions recorded against men for assaults on women and one in five women will experience sexual assault or sexual interference at some point in their lives. Here in Raglan, 70 – 80% of Police callouts are to family violence. Violence hurts everyone. A life lived in fear is not a life fulfilled.
This year, The Raglan House and the CONNECT Community Support Steering Group are inviting our local businesses to help us “White Out Family Violence” by taking part in our White Out Raglan Day on 25th November (and the week leading up to that day).
- How can you help?
- Decorate your shop windows in white and feature anti-violence messages
- Ask staff to wear White T Shirts on the Day – or Black T Shirts with a White Ribbons
- Blow up the balloons and put them up with some white balloons
- Cafe’s and restaurants – get creative and have a couple of “white out” options on your menu or give away a flat white coffee and a White Ribbon to every nth customer.
- Put white flowers on your counters or tables
- Put a White Ribbon skin transfer on your face or hand
Raglan House has a small supply of White Ribbon posters, car stickers and transfers available. lf you can use some or any of these, please call us on 825 8142 or email chrissy.hodkinson@theraglanhouse.co.nz and she will get them to you.
We are asking our schools to help us by making white ribbons or posies to distribute around our community so before the day we hope to be able to distribute these contributions around our community.
Help us White Out Family Violence
Chrissy Hodkinson
PR Manager
The Raglan House