Www.whiteribbondayqueensland.com.au This presentation was developed in partnership with Australia’s CEO Challenge and Say No To Violence Victoria Our lives

www.whiteribbondayqueensland.com.auThis presentation was developed in partnership with Australia’s CEO Challenge and Say No To Violence Victoria

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter

Martin Luther King


White Ribbon Day

• Started in Canada in 1991 by a group of male students on second anniversary of the shooting of 14 female peers at the University of Montreal.

• The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest effort in the world of men working together to end men's violence against women.

Wearing a white ribbon is seen as a personal pledge tonever to commit, excuse or remain silent

about violence against women.


I am a White Ribbon Ambassador

• This means I am a man who– is opposed to violence by men

against women– actively challenges attitudes and

behaviours which support violence against women


What is violence against women?






It takes so many forms…

• Violence isn’t just the physical, sexual, emotional or verbal behaviour used to control someone through fear.

• Things we say, or don’t say, contribute to the abuse.


Abusive and controlling behaviour• Constant put downs• Criticism• Jealousy• Unpredictable reactions• Silent treatment• Threats to harm self/pets/kids/

you/your family• Driving dangerously• Control of money• Isolating from family and friends• Not allowing you out• Telling you what to wear/what to

say/what not to say/how to vote/who to see

• Unwanted touching, kissing or sex• Damage to property• Shouting• Slapping• Pushing• Biting• Use of weapons• Stalking• Constant text messages/phone

calls between partners opposite sex/same sex/elders and adult kids/ teenagers and parents/ grown siblings living/ kinship groups living as a family in a domestic arrangement

…it often goes unrecognised


Internationally

Every year there are 1.6 million reported

violence related deaths

World Health Organisation 2008

• 54% of all deaths self inflicted• 35% intimate and family violence • 11% collective violence


In Australia• 1 in 3 women experience violence in their relationship• That’s 1000 women EACH DAY• In Queensland alone the Police handle more than

30 000 confirmed domestic violence incidents each year (still 9 in 10 are not reported)

• Domestic Violence is a major cause of death and disability in women aged 15 to 44


Every week, another two women escape domestic violence

Australian Institute of Criminology 2008


Every year in Australia

• Over 40 000 children and young people accompany their mothers to a refuge

• Most family and intimate violence goes unreported

• 9 in 10 women do not report violence


It doesn’t stop at the home

• In 2009, domestic and family violence costs Australia $13.6 billion annually

• The largest contributor is pain, suffering and premature mortality

Access Economics 2004 The Cost of Domestic Violence to the Australian Economy

Violence against women costs Australia


Its time for change

Together we can create a world where…


…women and children are safe in their own homes


…each of us knows how to express ourselves


… we know what our needs are


…and how to get our needs met


It starts with… … YOU• Focus on changing our own

attitudes and behaviours • being more aware of when

we say and do things which may be ‘violence supporting’ and changing this

• Everyone has the same basic needs and desires


It starts with… … communication

"All violence is the result of people tricking

themselves into believing that their pain derives from other people and

that consequently those people deserve to be

punished." Marshall Rosenberg


It starts with… … listening• Hearing other’s expressions

without taking them on or being responsible

• ‘less of me, more of you’• Silence, attention, pacing• The power of ‘mmmm’• Valuing the people we love

and care about• Valuing the people we work

with


Putting it into practice



Make it clear

Situation You hear a man tell a joke or say something about women that makes you feel uncomfortable.



Bring it homeSituation You hear a man tell a joke or say something about

women that makes you feel uncomfortable.



I reckon…Situation You hear a man tell a joke or say something about




Chat…Situation You hear a man tell a joke or say something about




DistractSituation You witness a man harassing and/or assaulting a

woman. This is an especially useful technique in dealing with situations in which there is a higher risk of physical violence (e.g. harassment or assault).


Dealing with violent situations

• It is important NOT to place yourself in compromising situations

• Violence must not support violence• Remember the police are trained to deal with these

situations; the aim is to BE BRAVE, NOT STUPID• Taking a step forward does not mean you need to be a martyr

or hero. It is essential that you do NOT place yourself or others also at risk

Taking more direct steps, particularly when faced with a violent situation, is very challenging.


Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter

Martin Luther King


Final thoughtsYour challenge:• Remember that we all have

the same needs.• Express appreciation or

gratitude by saying what need was met.

• When feeling upset, identify what need of ours is not met and what we can do to about it, rather than thinking about what’s wrong with others or that they ‘should’ fix it.


Phone (07) 3119 6347www.ceochallengeaustralia.org

[email protected]

www.whiteribbondayqueensland.com.au

Documents

Www.whiteribbondayqueensland.com.au This presentation was developed in partnership with Australia’s CEO Challenge and Say No To Violence Victoria Our lives