Stan sings White Ribbon tune

Media release

12 November 2010

Stan sings White Ribbon tune

Australian Idol Winner Stan Walker has today become a New Zealand White Ribbon Ambassador.

White Ribbon Ambassadors are chosen by the White Ribbon Committee for their passion and commitment to ending violence towards women. Ambassadors use their public profile to champion a violence free lifestyle to other men.

Stan explains, “I was blessed with a voice and not just a singing voice. I have a unique opportunity to talk to other young men and tell them that violence against women is not ok.”

In New Zealand most violence by men against women takes place in the home – each year an average of 14 women are killed by their partners or ex-partners and more than 3500 convictions for assaults on women are recorded each year

“As a child I witnessed and experienced some terrible things,” Stan says. “My house felt like a scene out of ‘Once Were Warriors’. That saying, if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger. Don’t believe it!

“Family violence destroys a family from within and set me on a chaotic and destructive path. If there is violence in your home, talk to someone. You don’t have to face it alone. There’s a helpline in New Zealand and it’s free.

“The same goes for people who witness family violence. Staying silent is not the answer and you can’t help your friends and family by keeping quiet.

“I’m very proud to be a White Ribbon Ambassador, to be standing next to the Ruben Wiki’s of this world and trying to live by actions and not by words alone. I bet there are many more of us just waiting for the courage to stand up and be counted.

“So my challenge to you is, wear a white ribbon this White Ribbon Day and show your mates that there’s never an excuse to be violent towards women,” says Stan.

For more information www.whiteribbon.org.nz

Notes:

• Stan’s NEW single ‘HOEMSICK’ is his tribute and Valentine to NZ

• He will be touring NZ in first quarter of 2011 starting with a show in his home town Taupo Jan 2nd – he will also perform at Parachute Festival

• Prior to these shows Stan will be in NZ several times this year for charity and church events

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Key Messages of the White Ribbon Campaign

Violence towards women is unacceptable

It is ok to ask for or offer help

• No violence within families is tolerable. If someone within the family is being frightened or intimidated by the behaviour of someone else, it is not ok. Violence isn’t just the physical, it’s also emotional or verbal behaviour used to control someone through fear. Things we say, or don’t say, contribute to the abuse.

Men must stand up and provide leadership

• White Ribbon Day is the international day when people, particularly men, wear a white ribbon to show they won’t tolerate, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

• It originated as a men’s movement in Canada and is now part of the United Nations annual calendar (International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women). The Families Commission took a leadership role in New Zealand in 2006.

Men are part of the solution

• Whether you are a father, brother, uncle, granddad or cousin – we all want to keep our families safe. We all want our children to grow up and have happy healthy relationships.

• By simply wearing a white ribbon you can make it clear to other men that you do not tolerate violence against women.

• You can also make sure your home, your business or your sports club is a safe environment where abusive behaviour is not tolerated.

• The White Ribbon Day campaign encourages men to talk openly about family violence, to support men who want to change their abusive behaviour and to challenge comments, statements and actions by men that are abusive.

Statistics in New Zealand:

• In New Zealand most violence towards women takes place in the home.

• In violence between couples, it is men’s violence that is most likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm.

• An average of 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex partners.

• There are over 3500 convictions recorded against men each year for assaults on women.

• One in three women will experience partner violence at some point in their lives.

The Families Commission and White Ribbon Committee works with multiple agencies and NGOs to coordinate the national campaign. The White Ribbon campaign complements but is separate to the family violence It’s Not OK campaign.

ENDS

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