"It starts with men" - White Ribbon Day action to end violence against women and girls

It’s White Ribbon Day today and it’s everyone’s opportunity to sign a pledge against violence towards women and girls.

“It starts with men” is the theme of this year’s White Ribbon Day and men are being encouraged to hold themselves accountable to women and to each other. This means supporting women and girls by taking action that contributes towards positive behaviour change and transforms harmful behaviours.

Gender equality is key to making this culture change happen and is achievable if men and boys understand and assume their responsibility as allies. Violence against women and girls is rooted in harmful views of what is masculine.

Statistics remain clear and shocking. In the year ending March 2023, South Yorkshire Police recorded 39,016 domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes. Around 6,000 people seek support from domestic abuse services and sexual abuse services in Sheffield each year, and around 90% of them are women. 

In the UK, 70% of women say they have experienced sexual harassment in public (APPG for UN Women, 2021) and in YOUGOV’s survey three years ago, 63% of men said they agree that men in society aren’t doing enough to ensure the safety of women and girls.

Starting with men, there is an absolute need to address the attitudes and behaviours that can contribute to a fear of violence for women and girls in their day-to-day lives.

Sheffield City Council is showing its commitment to working towards achieving gender equality and ending violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Since becoming an accredited White Ribbon organisation in 2022, the Council has been encouraging men to sign the White Ribbon pledge and wear a white ribbon, which is a promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

At the last Full Council meeting on 6 November, the Council showed its commitment to the White Ribbon Campaign and noted progress since the Council started supporting the White Ribbon campaign in 2021.

Actions for 2025 will see the Council working to its new Violence Against Women and Girls, Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy, which will build on existing efforts and outline a strong, multi-agency response.

This will include:

• Expanding leadership and outreach work by increasing the number of White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions among Sheffield’s councillors and workforce
• Encouraging every male councillor to be a White Ribbon Ambassador
• Strengthening partnerships with communities, stakeholders, and institutions, including the city’s local football clubs, to engage young men
• Prioritising education and prevention, with each service having a dedicated Lead for the White Ribbon Campaign and a commitment to prevention across all services
• Strengthening safety in the night-time economy; working closely with licensed premises to further promote the "Ask for Angela" campaign, and Sheffield’s Women and Girls Night-time Safety Charter and toolkit for businesses in the night-time economy

Councillor Fran Belbin, Deputy Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re standing against violence towards women and girls, and we are proud to be an accredited White Ribbon organisation. 

“Our aim through this work is to make Sheffield a safe and equal place for all. There should never be a place for violence against women and girls in this city or anywhere in the world.

“We’re encouraging as many as people as possible to sign up to the White Ribbon pledge. Men can sign up to be UK Ambassadors and women can sign up to be UK Champions, to show their commitment to calling out unacceptable behaviours and language, and build a culture of increased respect across the Council and in our communities. This year’s theme is “It starts with men”, signalling that it’s especially important for men to speak up and challenge the normalisation of abuse.

“We’re continuing to equip our staff members through training and a staff toolkit, so that they can challenge sexist behaviour and language effectively.

“It’s easy to sign up and join the thousands who have pledged to make a stand against violence towards women and girls and to work as allies to make a difference. Real change is possible if we all play our part.”

Last year the Council launched its first Women and Girls Night-time Safety Charter and developed resources for Sheffield Against Sexual Harassment, including the promotion of the Ask for Angela scheme in venues, bars, and other premises, and we support the city’s Violence Against Women and Girls Forum.

The Council continues to promote the Safety Charter through our Best Bar None Scheme and the Council’s ‘Violence Against Women and Girls Forum’ meets bimonthly. Each meeting has around 30 attendees and is open to any woman. There is a newsletter which people can sign up to for more information by emailing dact@sheffield.gov.uk. A vigil is held on the first Thursday of every month at 5.30pm outside the town hall, organised by women campaigners against male violence to remember women who have lost their lives due to male violence.

During the Autumn and into the Winter, officers will be working with schools and youth clubs through Youth Services and with Learn Sheffield. Council staff can access sexual harassment training on the Council’s training portal and there is a current programme of domestic abuse training with housing as part of work to achieve  Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance Accreditation with DAHA:  Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance accreditation.

People can sign up to the pledge and find out more about White Ribbon Day at www.whiteribbon.org.uk

About White Ribbon

• White Ribbon UK is part of the global White Ribbon movement to end men’s violence against women and is the leading charity that is ending men's violence against women by engaging with men and boys to make a stand against violence.  White Ribbon works with individuals, organisations, and policy makers towards wholesale culture change to prevent violence before it starts.
• Accreditation to White Ribbon lasts for three years. Sheffield City Council received accreditation in 2022 and approved a two-year action plan in 2023.
• Sheffield’s Domestic Abuse Helpline is: 0808 808 2241.