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White Ribbon Campaign

The White Ribbon Campaign was started in Canada in 1991 by a handful of men in response to one man's massacre of 14 women. These men felt a responsibility to urge men to speak out against male violence against women.

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared 25 November the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and a white ribbon has become the symbol for the day. The White Ribbon Campaign runs from 25 November through until 10 December, the International Day for Human Rights. For more information, visit the White Ribbon Foundation.

Darebin Council is a strong supporter of the White Ribbon Campaign and has held a range of events and formed a White Ribbon Action Team (see below).

What You Can Do

Wear a white ribbon or wrist band. This is a personal pledge that you do not excuse violence against women and you are committed to speaking out against it.
Swear to never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. To take the White Ribbon Oath, go to My Oath
Learn more about the issue. Start at White Ribbon Foundation
Speak up when you hear someone insult women or joke about violence. Talk about the issue to friends and family.
Become a White Ribbon Ambassador. If you are deeply committed to this cause, you can nominate as a White Ribbon Ambassador at White Ribbon Foundation
Hold a White Ribbon event to raise awareness in your community, or among your friends and family.

White Ribbon Animated Film

This fantastic short film illustrates the history, meaning and future of the White Ribbon Campaign. It was created by Beeworld Pty Ltd and commissioned by Darebin Council in partnership with Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service and Nothern Integrated Family Violence Services.

The men in the film are White Ribbon Ambassadors and three are from Darebin Council. The women are survivors of family violence.

To view the film, visit the Local Government Networking and Capacity Building Project website.

Darebin White Ribbon Action Team

In 2008, staff from across Council formed the Darebin White Ribbon Action Team. The team’s vision is ‘A community free of violence against women’. This voluntary group, now comprised of 14 men and women, meets monthly to plan activities, events and initiatives that aim to raise awareness of the White Ribbon Campaign and the need to end male violence against women.

We are pleased to announce that the founding member of the White Ribbon Action Team, Nick Mazzarella, was awarded national White Ribbon Ambassador of the Year for 2010.

The work of the Darebin White Ribbon Action Team is highlighted in the Preventing Violence Against Women Achievements Report 2006-2011, below.