White Ribbon New Zealand
“Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. The White Ribbon campaign in New Zealand is a meld of the White Ribbon Day movement in Canada and the United Nations international day for Elimination of Violence Against Women that is celebrated on 25 November each year.
The campaign is driven by community groups in towns and cities throughout New Zealand and is rapidly becoming part of the Annual Events Calendar. White Ribbon Day events and activities are being increasingly supported by businesses, cultural groups, sporting teams, local government, and a wide range of community and government agencies.
Beginnings
In 2004, Unifem introduced White Ribbon Day to New Zealand. Volunteers made and distributed 15,000 ribbons via Women’s Organisations and Human Rights Organisations. By 2006 the Families Commission had embraced White Ribbon Day as part of its work to raise awareness of family violence and encourage social change.
The Commission joined Women’s Refuge, National Network of Stopping Violence Services, Amnesty International, Save the Children and Relationship Services in promoting the campaign. They provide much of the funding and the project management for the campaign in New Zealand. In 2006, 200,000 ribbons were distributed and double that in 2007.
By 2008 the funding base had expanded, with contributions from the Ministry of Health, Police, ACC, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development. By this time too, one in 10 New Zealanders wore a white ribbon – with over 500,000 distributed around the country.
Stan Walker, Ambassador
This year New Zealand born Australian Idol Winner Stan Walker became a New Zealand White Ribbon Ambassador. White Ribbon Ambassadors are chosen by the White Ribbon Committee for their passion and commitment to ending violence towards women.
Stan said, “I was blessed with a voice and not just a singing voice. I have a unique opportunity to talk to other young men and tell them that violence against women is not ok. As a child I witnessed and experienced some terrible things, my house felt like a scene out of ‘Once Were Warriors’. That saying, if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger. Don’t believe it!
Family violence destroys a family from within and set me on a chaotic and destructive path. If there is violence in your home, talk to someone. You don’t have to face it alone. There’s a helpline in New Zealand and it’s free. The same goes for people who witness family violence. Staying silent is not the answer and you can’t help your friends and family by keeping quiet,” Stan said.
In New Zealand most violence by men against women takes place in the home and each year an average of 14 women are killed by their partners or ex-partners and more than 3500 convictions for assaults on women are recorded each year.
Stan said, “I’m very proud to be a White Ribbon Ambassador, to be standing next to the Ruben Wiki’s of this world and trying to live by actions and not by words alone. I bet there are many more of us just waiting for the courage to stand up and be counted.”
One Father’s Voice of Courage
“Last year, David White lost his daughter. She was killed before she could leave her abusive husband. For years Helen Meads, like tens of thousands of others throughout the country, had been a victim of domestic abuse. But far from the common perception of who commits such abuse, the abuser was white, wealthy and respectable.
David White speaks about his loss and what must be done to end this appalling practice.” To me, David White despite what he says, DOES have tremendous guts. He shows an ordinary courage that is both humbling and heartbreaking. I offer you his story so that it may remind you to NEVER stay silent where you see domestic violence, hear domestic violence or know it’s happening.
REMEMBER: Here in New Zealand the number to call is 111. You can use any phone type within New Zealand to dial 111, including payphones and phoneboxes or mobiles and cellphones even when there is no money/credit on the phone.
After dialling 111 ::
1. The Telecom operator will ask you: “Fire, Ambulance or Police?”.
2. The operator will then connect you to the relevant service.
3. For situations requiring multiple services, the operator will put you through to the most urgently needed service e.g. in domestic violence involving injuries that requires both Ambulance and Police, the operator will put you through to the Ambulance first.
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