We Speak Up: Sal Naseem

Meet Sal Naseem, a White Ribbon UK Ambassador and Founder of True North Leadership, is committed to speaking up and taking action to help end violence against women and girls. We spoke to Sal about the role that all men can play to create positive change, his experience working in police misconduct and his message for other men.  

What motivates you to be a White Ribbon Ambassador?     

It's from a place of understanding gained from professional experience, that as men, we need to be on the pitch as part of the work, not the sidelines- fighting against male violence against women and girls. It might not be all men, but it will take all men to be part of that change needed because that's on us, not on women and not on girls to carry that additional load. 

Do you have a personal story or experience you’d like to share?   

I worked in the police misconduct system for the best part of a decade, and for nearly five years was Director for London at the Independent Office for Police Conduct. There, I sadly saw the horrific effects of misogyny on too many women, both in policing and outside of it.  It was also this experience and having to deal with so many tragic cases, that started my journey around becoming a better male ally so that I could not just develop a better understanding, but also how to take effective action and drive change, and that's what I did in my time in that role, and continue to now as best as I can supporting White Ribbon UK as an Ambassador. 

What message would you give to other men, to encourage them to be allies to women and girls?    

I know it can feel hard, and that tendency to be a bit defensive is something we need to work through, because on the other side of that is taking agency and understanding that, as men, we can do so much good in this space. Making that intention is the first step.