THE WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN

The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the largest effort in the world of men working to end men’s violence against women. By wearing a white ribbon, a man pledges to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

The idea for the WRC began in 1991 following the massacre of fourteen female engineering students at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. These women were gunned down by a young man who believed that women did not have the right to become engineers. In response to the massacre, three Canadian men determined that they could no longer remain silent about gendered violence. After only six weeks preparation, as many as a hundred thousand men across Canada wore a white ribbon to state their objection to violence against women. Today, the WRC takes place in fifty countries worldwide.

CHIMO Crisis Services has been a part of this growing national and international movement since 2007. Our four long term goals are to:

• Increase public awareness of the realities of violence against women and girls, and of the unacceptability of this violence in the Richmond community
• Break the silence on violence issues in specific communities of people in Richmond where violence against women and girls has been a taboo subject
• Create a critical mass of individuals who have the skills, knowledge, courage, and will to intervene in violence incidents and un-healthy or violent relationships
• Promote healthy and non-violent relationships through education

Although ending violence against women is a year-round effort, the campaign itself runs from November 25, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, throughout White Ribbon Days until December 6. During this time, community members of all genders in Richmond are encouraged to speak out against violence against women, wear a ribbon and sign one of the large “pledge” cards posted in key public places around Richmond. During this time CHIMO also works with high schools, workplaces and faith communities around the city to promote the message of non-violence and distribute the symbolic white ribbons.

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