White Ribbon Day: Stand Up and Speak Out
PCCs Supporting White Ribbon Day 2018
Dame Vera Baird QC, APCC Victims Lead and PCC for Northumbria, explains why all men should stand up and speak out against violence against women and girls.
"This Sunday (25 Nov) is White Ribbon Day. It's the beginning of 16 days of international action against violence towards women and girls.
"Violence against women and girls unfortunately comes in many forms:
- domestic violence, including emotional and psychological abuse;
- sexual abuse;
- human trafficking;
- harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, Force Marriage, or honour-based violence.
"Nearly all gender-based violence is carried out by men against women and girls. Women are twice as likely as men to experience relational violence, with 1.2 million women across England experiencing substantial physical and sexual violence in their lifetimes."
"As Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), we commission a range of services to support victims of domestic violence, including services for male victims too. We do this by working in close partnership with other stakeholders such as local authorities, health services and, crucially, the sector bodies with expertise with working with survivors of violence and domestic abuse."