21 Nov 2023
International campaigns White Ribbon Day and Orange the World are receiving the full support of St Albans district over the coming week.
This includes an information stall at the Charter Market on White Ribbon Day, Saturday November 25, and lighting up the Museum + Gallery to support the UN’s Orange the World initiative.
SADC signed the White Ribbon pledge last year, making a commitment to tackle violence against women and girls. It has also gained White Ribbon status and ensures women across the district who experience violence know help is available.
The White Ribbon campaign specifically targets men with the goal of ensuring they will not remain silent about or excuse violence and harassment towards women and girls.
SADC chief executive Amanda Foley said: “This is an example of the work we do to campaign for an end to violence against women and girls and to bring about a significant change in attitudes.
St Albans BID is also backing the initiative, and manager Vivien Canon said: “The point of the White Ribbon awareness campaign for the BID is to highlight an apparent growth in abusive patterns of behaviours presented by men against women.
“From the rude, lurid suggestion made in ‘jest’ to a female retail service assistant, to the outright physical harm of a hard shove to get them out of the way, this behaviour does not show respect or a value of women.
“If such behaviours remain unchallenged, a man may not realise the negative impact he has. This isn’t a blame game, unless justified, rather it is a call to action.
“BID encourages you to look at the campaign site which offers practical information on how to raise issues and positively intervene. It will often be a man’s male friends who can best point out unacceptable behaviour.
“It will be male colleagues who will need to set the acceptable scene within the business environment. The aim of the White Ribbon campaign is to stop violence before it starts.”
St Albans Museum + Gallery will be lit up in orange for 16 days from Monday, with the colour symbolising a brighter future free of violence.
The initiative was proposed by the St Albans and District branch of Soroptimist International, a global women’s organisation.
Amanda Foley added : “Lighting up the Museum in this way is a further demonstration of our commitment to the cause of ending male violence. This is a separate campaign to White Ribbon but is for the same cause and we are proud to support it.”
While the Museum is lit up in orange, there will be 16 days of activism across the country aimed at ending gender-based violence.
Denise Powell, St Albans Soroptimist lead for the campaign, said: “We are grateful again for the support of St Albans Museum + Gallery – joining the Orange the World campaign and turning the building orange since 2020!
“Orange is chosen for this campaign as a bright colour to shine a light on the scourge of violence against women and girls and also as a beacon of hope for a future free from such violence.
“It’s great to link up with White Ribbon in St Albans because Soroptimist International has the same aim – a world where all forms of abuse against women and girls is eliminated.”
The local campaign was officially launched in Harpenden this week, the first time the town has become involved in the initiative. Other activities include a pub launch at The Great Northern on Saturday.
Meanwhile, St Albans support service Domestic Abuse Alliance (DAA), and outsourced HR provider The HR Dept are calling on businesses to sign up to a six-step pledge to support employees.
Launched in conjunction with business owner and survivor of domestic abuse Sharon Livermore, Working it Out is a nationwide campaign to help employers tackle domestic abuse.
The Working It Out six-step pledge invites employers to take action by:
1. Becoming a member of the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse
2. Introducing and embedding a domestic abuse policy in the workplace
3. Ensuring all staff know where to get help if they are experiencing domestic abuse
4. Raising awareness of domestic abuse among employees
5. Publicly sharing their commitment to the Working It Out pledge
6. Reporting back on activities and achievements annually.
Razi Hassan, director of partnership and communication for the DA Alliance, said: “Our collaboration with Sharon and The HR Dept on the Working It Out campaign is a powerful example of how people and organisations can partner to protect victims of domestic abuse.
“By engaging with employers and providing them with practical tools and resources, we can ensure that those experiencing domestic abuse are identified and receive the help they need as soon as possible.”
You can find out more about White Ribbon UK and take their promise here: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/.
For more information about the St Albans District branch of Soroptimist International and their Orange the World campaign go to: https://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/2023/orange23/
For further information about the Working It Out campaign and pledge visit: https://domesticabuseeducation.co.uk/working-it-out/.
