Tackling violence against women and children

White Ribbon tie-in

Events have been arranged in Stirling area in support of the national campaign to end violence against women and children.

The ‘16 Days of Action” campaign is being backed by Stirling Council and other organisations including Stirling and District Women’s Aid.

Now in its 25th year, the annual campaign calls for the elimination of violence against women and children and raises awareness of the harm they face.

These include domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, rape and sexual assault, commercial sexual exploitation, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.

While men and people in same sex relationships can also be victims, activities during the campaign mainly focus on male violence against women as statistics show that they are the victims in the vast majority of cases, this being the basis of the term gender-based violence.

The 16 Days campaign runs from Friday, November 25 (International Day against Violence against Women), through to December 10 (International Human Rights Day) and also includes World Aids Day on December 1.

It launches here on Friday with a conference on the subject at Forth Valley College Stirling campus, which will be attended by academic experts and police officials from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Stirling and District Women’s Aid manager Jessica Lindhof said: “While a great deal has been done nationally and locally to create effective services and legislation to combat gender-based violence, we have to be equipped with the knowledge to reach all of those at risk when the real number of victims still significantly exceeds those who come forward to services.

“Through the programme of events we look to have a better understanding of the complex needs and experiences of women and children who are affected by abuse, as well as the tools, legislation and resources that are at our disposal to reach and protect those at greatest need.”

The opening day of the campaign also marks White Ribbon Day which acknowledges that while the majority of gender-based violence has a female victim and male perpetrator, the vast majority of men are not abusers and can play a significant part in addressing the root cause.

Over coming weeks school children, communities and Stirling Council will be creating displays in the shape of the White Ribbon Campaign logo at several locations across Stirling.

A White Ribbon march is also planned for the spring.

Football clubs across Forth Valley will also be getting involved by promoting the White Ribbon campaign within their home matchday programmes and announcements.

Some of Stirling’s other 16 Day events include: Book Week events, details at http://culturestirling. org/library-events/; Stirling and District Women’s Aid open day (11am-3pm) on November 29; Waverly Care delivering hour long workshops at the Mayfield Centre and Stirling University on December 1, World Aids Day, to combat the stigma that leads to people fearing to get tested or disclose the condition; and a Rape Crisis Reclaim the Night march and event on December 8 (7-10pm).

For further information, email: sinclairam@stirling. gov.uk.