West Lancashire Borough Council continues its commitment to stand against domestic violence

• Male Council Officers and Councillors take the pledge to support women and girls
• White Ribbon Promise pledges to 'never to use, excuse or remain silent about violence against women and girls'
• Landmarks will be lit up to support campaign message

West Lancashire Borough Council will mark White Ribbon Day 2022 today by sharing a commitment to end men’s violence against women.

West Lancashire Borough Council first achieved White Ribbon Accreditation as an organisation in 2016. The Council is committed to its ongoing support of the campaign and raising awareness of men’s violence against women and girls by encouraging male staff members to become White Ribbon ambassadors and to make the White Ribbon promise never to use, excuse or remain silent about violence against women and girls.

In a demonstration of support, the Council will place information leaflets across Council premises and local leisure centres, and Ormskirk Clock Tower and the light cube in Skelmersdale will be lit with bright white light today.

Councillor Gareth Dowling, Deputy Leader of the Council and portfolio holder for Communities and Community Safety, said: "There is no excuse for women and girls facing abuse at the hands of men and boys and White Ribbon Day is a chance for men to pledge their support to combat this type of violence.

"Together we can unite to work towards ending gendered violence. We must do what we can to make women and girls feel safe in our community."

Interim Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, Paul Charlson, added: "The international White Ribbon Campaign is a movement that calls on everyone to come together and say ‘no’ to violence against women and girls.

"Domestic abuse can take many forms including physical, psychological and financial abuse as well as coercive control. Senior Councillors and Council Officers have already made the White Ribbon Promise and become White Ribbon Ambassadors, and so this year, our work includes the continued raising awareness of abuse, in the hope that more Council Officers and Councillors will be encouraged to make the Promise. Our focus will be on ensuring that anyone affected by domestic abuse knows how to access support."

White Ribbon Day, a widely recognised movement in the UK, is spearheaded by the leading charity White Ribbon UK and works to engage men and boys towards ending violence against women and girls. This year White Ribbon Day is on 25 November, falling on the same week as the opening of the FIFA men’s World Cup tournament. There has never a better time to focus on the good that can come from unifying and supporting one common cause.

#TheGoal – the charity's hashtag - represents how everyone, including organisations such as the Council, can bring men and boys together to think about how they can make a positive difference in achieving equality and safety for women and girls.

The campaign highlights eleven traits that men and boys can nurture, each representing a player in a football team. It calls on the need to shift expectations that violent and abusive behaviour and attitudes towards women and girls is normal and cannot be changed.

The mission calls on people to make the White Ribbon Promise; never to use, excuse or remain silent about violence against women and girls. The Promise can be made on White Ribbon UK’s website: www.whiteribbon.org.uk

Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, said: “This year, White Ribbon Day is focusing on the attitudes and behaviours men and boys can adopt to move away from associations to violent and abusive behaviour.

“Men and boys are now expecting better from their colleagues, friends, and family to ensure women and girls are safe."

#TheGoal #WhiteRibbonDay #WRD22