Take the Pledge this White Ribbon Day

Take the Pledge this White Ribbon Day

Take The Pledge to ‘stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence towards women’ on White Ribbon Day at www.whiteribbon.org.nz

White Ribbon Day is Friday 25th November; it is the international day for the elimination of violence towards women and a key date in the White Ribbon calendar.

White Ribbon asks men to take responsibility for ending the violence and taking The Pledge. This is an effective mechanism for getting men involved to prevent other men’s violence, by standing up and speaking out, particularly when other men disrespect women in their talk or actions.

To help promote The Pledge, Campaign Manager Rob McCann asked a group of his friends if they would share their thoughts about men’s violence on camera. “The surprising thing was so many said yes,” said Mr McCann. “At university or work, none of us had talked about the violence we had seen or experienced, or how it had shaped us. So it was a bit of a shock to learn they had been affected by violence.”

After asking a few mates, some of whom are well known as actors, comedians and musicians, the project began to snowball. Friends were asking their mates to get on-board and soon we had more people than we could film. “I think the willingness to get involved demonstrates just how many New Zealanders want our appalling family violence statistics to change,” says Mr McCann.

Radio Host, Estelle Clifford:
“I grew up in a household with domestic violence; it affected the choices I made when I was younger. It definitely affected my relationships. I guess that’s why I’m quite passionate: I’ve had a history and it affects children forever.”

Sir Edmond Hillary Actor, Andrew Munro:
“As soon as you’re resorting to violence, you’ve lost.”

Musician, Ben Morley, from Mice on Stilts
“I grew up with a man who was very violent towards my mother and my hope is that it is not New Zealand’s future.

Pledge video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ExsoEHeWg
Whey we want to end men's violence video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNvNzyw5BE4

White Ribbon Events will be taking place across New Zealand on White Ribbon Day include:
White Ribbon Fun Run | Wellington | Parliament Steps | 11:30am
Walk a Mile in her Shoes | Blenheim | Davidson Park | noon
Start with Respect White Ribbon Day | Christchurch | Cathedral Square | 5pm (with the White Ribbon Riders)
White Ribbon High School Breakfast | Manukau | Manukau Salvation Army |7:30am
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes | Counties Manukau | Start at Immigration Building | 9:00am
White Ribbon Relay Race | North Taranaki | Hautoki Plaza, Devon Street | noon
White Ribbon Day Street March | Whanganui | St Hill Street and Taupo Quay | noon (with the White Ribbon Riders)

White Ribbon Ride is also visiting Ashburton, Christchurch, Whanganui, Whakatane, Kawerau and Te Puke
For more events https://whiteribbon.org.nz/events/

© Scoop Media