Open doors to White Ribbon

Horsham domestic violence survivor and White Ribbon advocate Simone O’brien has encouraged people to connect with their neighbours to help prevent violence against women.

Mrs O’brien, a mother of three, was brutally attacked by a former partner in 2012, while living in Queensland.

She survived after three neighbours rushed to her aid, and spent months in a Brisbane hospital’s intensive care unit fighting for her life.

“I would not be here today if it wasn’t for the help of my neighbours,” she said.

“I owe them my life. I would encourage everyone to get to know their neighbours.

“You never know what’s happening behind someone’s door and when you or someone else might need a helping hand.”

White Ribbon, Australia’s national male-led campaign to end men’s violence against women, is trying to build a future free from violence and abuse.

Chief executive Libby Davies has encouraged people to host a White Ribbon Night event on July 28.

“This year’s White Ribbon Night is focusing on the benefits of strengthening community relationships and building support networks within our neighbourhoods, which can help prevent the occurrence of domestic violence,” she said.

“White Ribbon Night is an opportunity for Australians to reach out to their neighbours, start important conversations which raise awareness of domestic violence against women and build strong community bonds that could be lifesaving.”

Money raised through White Ribbon Night goes towards prevention programs in schools, workplaces and the broader community.

White Ribbon Ambassador associate professor Michael Flood said the organisation’s primary prevention programs aimed to stop violence before it happened, through education, awareness raising and by challenging ingrained attitudes and power inequalities that gave rise to men’s violence against women.

“If we can build communities with strong norms of respect, non-violence, and equality, this will have a powerful impact on rates of domestic and family violence,” he said.

“Perpetrators will feel far less able to get away with using violence, victims will find it easier to seek support and to escape violence, and friends and neighbours will be more likely to take action when they suspect there is abuse.”

In 12 months, on average, one woman is killed every week in Australia as a result of intimate partner violence.

Vichealth research into community attitudes indicated 98 percent of survey respondents showed they were likely to intervene if they knew a woman was experiencing family violence.

People can visit www.whiteribbon. org.au/whiteribbonnight for information about hosting an event or www.whiteribbon.org.au/donate to make a donation.