Taranaki DHB shows support for White Ribbon Day 2017

White Ribbon Day messages will be loud and clear at Taranaki DHB this week, showing support for the international movement to end men’s violence towards women. This year’s theme is ‘Raise our Boys’ which focuses on ensuring Dad’s have the skills and confidence to talk to their sons about respectful relationships and sexual relationships.

Marianne Pike, Taranaki DHB’s Violence Intervention Programme Coordinator, said “Preventing violence towards women starts by raising respectful boys. It’s up to all men, women, dads, uncles, kaumatua and teachers to show our boys what a respectful relationship looks like.”

The week-long campaign, in conjunction with Taranaki Safe Families Trust, will promote respectful behaviour for all men and encourage dads to be the kind of man they want their boys to be.

“White Ribbon Day 2017 celebrates the many men willing to show leadership and commitment to promoting safe and respectful relationships within families.”

“To help promote this message and show our support we will have large white ribbons on the outside of Taranaki Base Hospital, along with the Silent Shoes, Spiral of Violence, white ribbon marble jar and black silhouette displays. Each display draws attention to family violence in New Zealand, highlighting the message that violence towards women and children is never OK.”

Saturday 25th November officially marks the annual White Ribbon Day celebration when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women.

Staff at Taranaki DHB will be given the opportunity to watch the movie White Ribbon NZ has created called ‘Raise Our Men,’ featuring interviews with New Zealand men about their experience of growing up and conforming to male stereotypes.

In addition to supporting the White Ribbon Campaign, Taranaki DHB through its Violence Intervention Programme (VIP), is also committed to reducing and preventing the health impacts of violence and abuse through early identification, support, assessment and referral of victims presenting at our health services to specialist community organisations.

Ms Pike explains “All our acute health services, such as Emergency, Women, Child Health and Mental Health services, including all primary health services, are points of contact with people that are experiencing family violence. Health staff routinely offer support to all women, men and children by asking standard questions about safety in homes to reduce the long term harm of family violence.”

About the White Ribbon Campaign

Violence is endemic within New Zealand. In the four years from 2009 to 2012, an average of 13 women, 10 men, and 9 children were killed each year as a result of family violence. As many as one in 10 people over 65 years in New Zealand will experience some kind of elder abuse in a year.

White Ribbon Day on 25 November celebrates the many men willing to show leadership and commitment to promoting safe, healthy relationships within families. It also encourages men to challenge each other on attitudes and behaviours that are abusive.

As part of the White Ribbon Campaign men are asked to take The Pledge - to never condone or remain silent about violence towards women: www.whiteribbon.org.nz/act/the-pledge/

The White Ribbon Campaign originated as a men’s movement in Canada and is now part of the United Nations annual calendar. The Families Commission took a leadership role in New Zealand in 2006 and the campaign now focuses on the whole of November, culminating on 25 November – White Ribbon Day.

Where to find help for family violence:

• It’s Not OK 0800 456 450

• Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843; or visit the websites:

- www.nnsvs.org.nz

- www.areyouok.org.nz

ENDS

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