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ANNUAL REPORT 2006Contents
Future Development Appendix 1: Location of White Ribbon Activities 2006 Appendix 2: Meetings attended and Presentations 2006 The first monthly report of 2006 on the website said “We thought January would be quiet, but there’s so much planning going on” It would be very easy to be complacent about the relative success of White Ribbon Campaign during 2006, but after I gave a keynote speech at a major conference in Aberdeen in September, someone from the floor asked This quite reasonable question was based upon the idea that we were doing good work, but weren’t having enough impact, a quite appropriate conclusion given the fact that even at our most optimistic assumptions we only reached 150,000 men out of a population of 30 million, or 0.5%. Changing the culture which condones violence against women will not be achieved by this activity alone so we have other elements to our strategy. The second element of our strategy is to influence opinion formers and law makers, by targeting them directly. The third element of the strategy is to continue to develop media coverage in order to ensure that the White Ribbon Campaign message is heard. During 2006 we started to develop a range of contacts who are interested in looking at different ways of addressing male violence against women. 2006 also saw White Ribbon Campaign trebling in size, and the start of the Council of Europe campaign against violence against women The challenge in 2007 is while we are expanding our activities again, to build upon these links and to make our contribution to ensuring that violence against women ends.
“Great to hear about the progress you’re making. 'In our lifetime' seems more achievable now than ever before.” Sandra Paton DV Trainer Awareness Raising Educational Work
Political Work and Networking.
From the Guestbook
There was an invitation to a special reception at Downing Street for those working in the field of Domestic Violence and a photo call with Cherie Booth. Politicians Meg Munn, Harriet Harman, Baroness Scotland and Ruth Kelly were also present. White Ribbon Campaign UK had a brief meeting with Lars U Granberg, a Swedish MP who chairs a group of Male MPs in the Swedish Parliament who meet regularly to consider gender issues, e.g. inappropriate adverts, and intervene when appropriate. He offered to meet with any male MPs in the UK who were interested in setting up a similar men’s group. Council of Europe Task Force “I call on your federation’s football players to wear a white ribbon in protest against violence against women and in support of respect for the individual” Women’s Movement Co-operation National Women’s Organisations with which we consulted in 2006 include the following:
During the year we provided the Womens Empowerment group in Pakistan, with over £8,000 worth of business. A number of DV campaigns gave money donated for white ribbons to local womesn organisations. Trade Unions Supporting Organisations Another national charity which became a formal supporter is the Family Welfare Association which runs family centres and day centres A number of local branches of organisations such as NSPCC also became supporters. Campaigning A range of posters and banners were commissioned, produce and offered to campaigns to support their work. The website had over 10,000 visits during the year, and there were thousands of users of the online knowledge quiz. The on-line shop generated more than £2000 worth of merchandise orders Cultural Activities During the year we had enquiries from some theatre groups looking for sponsorship for anti DV work. We provided information and merchandise to assist with their campaigning. We purchased a set of exhibition boards which have been used to display a giant white ribbon decorated with photos of supporters. We assisted a group in Oxfordshire in launching an Art exhibition about Domestic Violence on November 25th. For the third year running we had a stand at the “No Slap Just Tickle” event, aimed at involving men in opposing domestic violence. We supported the development of ‘Cock & Bull Stories — Men Talking Masculinity’ by contributing material. We sponsored a showing of “Take My Eyes” a Spanish film at Hebden Bridge PictureHouse. where White Ribbon Campaign and Calderdale Womens Centre had stands exhibiting our work to the 150 filmgoers.
A specific focus for campaigning activity for the year was Sport. Nationally we had some meetings with relevant boides ,e.g. We attended a Corporate Alliance against Domestic Violence Breakfast Meeting with the Minister for Sport, representatives from the FA and representatives from some football clubs but progress nationally was slow. . It was excellent news to receive the support of the Professional Footballers Association , and we also liaised with Match of the Day commentators in the hope that they would endorse the campaign on air, but we really lacked enough staff to be able to pursue this when there was an opportunity. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ordered 1000 White Ribbons which they sent to the Presidents of all the European Football Associations playing in the World Cup in Germany to ask them to take a stand against the football supporters who would be condoning the trafficking of 30,000 women into Germany by paying prostitutes. Thanks to the hard work of local dv-co-ordinators there was an excellent responses to the campaign from some individual clubs. “Shevington Sharks Amateur Rugby League Club (Wigan) fully supports the campaign”
In other divisions Nottingham Forest, Wrexham, Wolves, Walsall, Swansea, Rhyl and Bangor City undertook activities. At Peterborough United there was a page in the programme about white ribbon campaign, and young people and staff from the DART project enjoyed a hospitality box before parading a giant white ribbon Around the ground and handing out ribbons to the spectators.
AC Milan And InterMilan have also issued messages of support. The White Ribbon Campaign was the charity of choice of the Tri Nations Rugby league Championship involving Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. And senior players from all three teams made statements of support. Salford City Reds and Widnes Vikings in Rugby League, and Pontypridd Rugby Union Club were the first UK rugby clubs to become involved. Rugby Clubs from the North West and London were also involved in activities. “We have decided to come down to support absolutely, with you, the Campaign of the White Ribbon men against violence.”
The White Ribbon Campaign office has dossiers of materials for each sport to show the involvement of clubs in so far and to demonstrate how more Sports clubs can follow. Other Sports
We are working on graphics to encourage other sports to become involved. Fire Service
Police
Merseyside Police distributed 5000 ribbons to Police Officers, as well as allowing time for group briefings by Sandy Bowden DV Prevention Co-ordinator at NSPCC in Wavertree and CitiSafe. Police Horse Benson offered a good PR opportunity to increase the exposure of the message. International Work IN 2006 WRC (UK) was appointed as a member of the Violence Prevention Alliance, an organisation co-ordinated by the World Health Organisation. http://www.who.int/violenceprevention/about/participants/en/index.html Media Radio. Film Print Media We started the year with a single banner, a few leaflets and a few thousand ribbons. We now have a stock of 30 banners in several different formats, hundreds of posters, 25,000 ribbons, 3,000 enamel badges, fabric ribbons, fridge and car magnets. We developed a collection of campaigning ideas and campaigning resources including exhibition panels, pop up posters and banners, powerpoint presentations and educational and awareness raising games and activities. These are available for groups to use either independently or in connection with a speaker. When support has been offered we are very motivated to offer materials in other formants and other languages. We now have some materials in Welsh and Chinese, but are keen to expand the range of materials. Please contact the office to discuss your requirements I am a male. I support your campaign all the way. I've put up a banner in Hanwell. V.G. Hanwell.
Without the offering of long term loans the year’s activities would not have been viable, despite the large amounts of voluntary effort invested. Because White Ribbon Campaign is expanding we have had to expand our working capital, and bought materials to lend out to campaigns. Therefore expenditure on Merchandise has been substantial. Grant Aid I am a survivor of economic domestic violence. We lived in the JWA refuge. I think that the White Ribbon Day is an amazing event. Prefer to stay Anonymous, London Appendix 1.
Appendix 2.
International
UK
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Sport 
Liverpool FC are the best example of positive White Ribbon activity. Nearly 1000 ribbons were worn by staff on duty on match day, and they also received briefings about the meaning of White Ribbon Day and for the second year running Rafa Benitez, the manager wore his ribbon during the match and the post match interviews.There was also a half page in the programme as well as half time announcements. Benitiez was joined by the managers of Everton, David Moyes, and the manager of Manchester City, Stuart Pearce, as well as several hundred staff working at Wigan Athletic.
Metropolitan Borough of Bury involved senior police officers in the launch of their campaign, and had Community Support Officers distributing ribbons in the town centre together with volunteers and Council officers.