It’s White Ribbon Day today here in Australia and around the world. Today is a day when wearing a white ribbon signifies a personal pledge to not commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women and children.
According to the White Ribbon Day web site, the ribbons can be bought on the streets today or from The Body Shop.
The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has got behind the United Nations campaign as part of the Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace. To back it up NCCA have developed their own version of “Wings of a Dove”, an international ecumenical campaign for prayer and action from today through to 10 December. Today’s Prayerline resource is in pdf format: Day 1 (Nov 25) – White Ribbons for Healing
James Haire, President of the NCCA, writes:
“On behalf of the National Council of Churches in Australia, I strongly commend White Ribbon Day. The issue of the abuse of women and children is something central in public consciousness now. The Churches are very aware of the issue, and have sought repentance and renewal for their complicity in this scourge of the abuse of human rights, and illegal activity. The Churches have sought to do as much as they are able to help in the restoration of those who have been abused. The beginning of that process is through public awareness, so I strongly support this poignant celebration of White Ribbon Day.”
Over at Duncan’s TV Adland a week ago I posted on the Australian television campaigns that are raising awareness of the issues. The Australian Government sponsored campaign encourages women to speak up and seek help. The UN campaign from Saatchi & Saatchi aims at raising the awareness of men about their responsibility. I haven’t seen the UN campaign here in Queensland. I get the impression that it’s a bit too edgy for our audiences. It implies that ordinary men share complicity in domestic violence when they do nothing about it. What do you think? Have you seen it?