Take a stand on White Ribbon Day
Our community will come together on White Ribbon Day to say no to domestic and family violence in all its forms. Here’s how you can get involved.
Moreton Life
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Domestic violence is a growing problem in our community.
That’s the bleak truth coming from support services working at the coal face across the Moreton Bay Region.
“We know that one woman on average each week is killed in domestic violence incidents,” Encircle chief executive Patrick Bulman says.
“White Ribbon is the largest movement of men and boys. The White Ribbon Day event itself is around making men responsible and accountable for changing behaviours.”
Encircle is organising the Redcliffe White Ribbon Day march on November 22, where they are expecting about 1000 people to stand up and join the movement to help create a safer community.
“All violence begins with disrespect, and respecting women is core to our mission,” Patrick says.
“The stats are telling us 86 per cent of the perpetrators are men. Our commitment is to provide a safe and supportive community. We want to be part of the solution.”
The long-term effects of domestic violence against women have far-ranging effects.
According to a report prepared for the Federal Department of Social Services, violence against women and children is costing $22 billion in Australia. And children of mothers experiencing domestic violence have higher rates of social and emotional problems than other children.
Patrick is encouraging men and boys in the community to join the march and sign the pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about men’s violence against women in all its forms.
“The key thing is we are engaging with school education programs to get the message out to the younger years. High schools will be attending the march.
“We need to have those conversations with them that domestic violence is unacceptable. It’s about changing men’s behaviours … this is part of a male-led initiative.
“We do have an ex-perpetrator talking about his experiences, and that is quite powerful in itself.”
Encircle ambassador Petero Civoniceva, along with Redcliffe Police officers, firemen and women, Zonta members and other businesses in the area will join the march.
Pine Rivers recorded the biggest increase of Domestic Violence Order applications in the Queensland Courts in the Moreton region – up 16.9 per cent on the 2017-18 number of applications.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP
■ Take the pledge to stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women
■ Join the White Ribbon Day march in Redcliffe
■ Be a safe active bystander: call someone out if they are making a sexist joke and call the police if you witness a violent incident
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