United in campaign to end violence against women

Media Release
 
5 November 2009

Whittlesea Mayor Cr Mary Lalios, Cr Kris Pavlidis and David Turnbull CEO, joined other community leaders and representatives of northern region Councils at a lunch event attended by the Minister for Women's Affairs Maxine Morand and White Ribbon Foundation Chairman, Andrew O'Keefe

The event was organised by local councils as part of the White Ribbon Day campaign, an international movement to encourage men to take action to end violence against women, which is centred around the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, on 25 November.

"Both the Councillors and staff from the City of Whittlesea are very keen to support the White Ribbon Campaign in partnership with leaders from across the northern region to help get the message across that violence against women cannot be tolerated," Cr Lalios said.

"It is great to see the campaign get an increasing profile in the run-up to this year's White Ribbon Day.

"The City of Whittlesea's support for the campaign is also underpinned by actions in our Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2009-2013 which aim to help prevent family violence."

Ms Morand congratulated the northern region councils for their contribution to the Victorian Government's significant reforms to the family violence and sexual assault systems and for their work in helping to prevent violence against women.

Mr O'Keefe (Deal or No Deal and Sunrise) launched a new suite of online resources, the White Ribbon Challenge, to help individuals, organisations and communities take action to prevent violence against women.

The White Ribbon Foundation aims to eliminate violence against women through cultural change and asks men to challenge behaviours that contribute to violence.

White Ribbon Day, 25 November asks men to speak out against violence against women  by wearing a White Ribbon or Wristband and swearing the Oath at www.myoath.com.au.

For more information on the White Ribbon Campaign and to access the new resources, launched today, go to www.whiteribbonday.org.au

For information on Victoria's Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women go to www.women.vic.gov.au/familyviolence

Media enquiries:
Communications Officer
Alistair Walton
(03) 9217 2199