Ending violence against women and girls starts when we #ChangeTheStory

White Ribbon Day, 25 November

Culture change doesn’t happen overnight, but we can end men’s violence against women and girls in our lifetimes.

In 2023, we encouraged individuals and organisations to make consistent choices and actions to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls, so that they may live their lives free from the fear of violence.

Violence experienced by women and girls takes many forms. Some behaviours and words may seem ‘harmless’ but normalising them ignores the short- and long-term effects on women and can lead to more extreme violence.

#ChangeTheStory supported people to better understand women and girls experiences of gender-based violence, learn how to be allies and put this into action. We continue to encourage individuals and organisation to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls into 2024 and beyond.

How you can #ChangeTheStory

White Ribbon Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that follow it is an important time of the year to raise awareness about men’s violence against women as well as the active role men must play in ending it.

But it’s not the only time of year to get involved with White Ribbon UK or to be an ally to women and girls.

We’re calling on all organisations and individuals to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls every day. This starts with challenging the seemingly ‘harmless’ attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence for women and girls.

 

Violence against women and girls is not a women’s issue.

1 in 4 girls

in mixed-sex schools have had experiences of unwanted sexual touching in school.

6 in 10 women

have felt harassed in the gym by a man.

1.7 million women

experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2022.

 However, it’s often portrayed as one. This is due to the way women have long been responsible for navigating threats to their own safety. The first step to take to #ChangeTheStory is to understand that women and girls live with a fear of violence – and a threat of this fear of violence — that men do not experience in the same way.

#ChangeTheStory is about reversing this narrative: #AllMenCan take an active role in stopping violence before it starts by recognising and calling out attitudes and behaviours that are harmful and constitute as violence, and lead to more extreme cases of violence.

These statistics convey the widespread nature of men’s violence against women in our society. This is a sad reality — and one we can change.

 
 

Do you know what violence looks like?

Violence against women and girls can happen anywhere and takes many forms – from sexist jokes online to harassing behaviours on the train. Some behaviours may be dismissed as ‘small’ or ‘low-level’ acts: sharing sexist ‘jokes’ at work or in group chats; catcalling women in the street; or harassing women on a night out. These all contribute towards creating a culture of fear and misogyny that encourages violence and abuse against women. In spaces where these behaviours are normalised, it can lead to more extreme cases of violence.

Donate | The Resources | What you can do

 
 

 Resources and events

White Ribbon Day 2023 Resources

We provided resources to help individuals and organisations #ChangeTheStory for women and girls. Please click on the relevant images below to access these resources.

Updated 21.11.2023

White Ribbon Day 2023 EVENTS

Throughout White Ribbon Day and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, White Ribbon UK hosted a webinar series for individuals to learn more about:

  • our workplace programmes and how we work with organisations to transform harmful cultures;

  • the importance of male allyship;

  • and practical strategies to stop violence before it starts.

We will be carrying on the #ChangeTheStory webinar series into 2024. Please look out for announcements of webinars on the website and in the newsletter.

The Stats. What you can do. Donate.

 
 

You can #ChangeTheStory

 
 

I #ChangeTheStory for women and girls by

…challenging misogynistic & outdated male attitudes, promoting allyship and empowering women to change their own stories by determining their outcomes.

…raising awareness at the school I work at. I have led a whole school campaign to bring awareness about violence against women and girls.

…ensuring my boys know the correct way to treat women.

…speaking to my workplace and designing a poster and issuing White Ribbons to staff members.

… promoting the day and the education resources for schools.

These are just a few of the many ways people told us how they are working to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls throughout White Ribbon Day 2023.

Here are some more ways you can #ChangeTheStory for women and girls.

We want to reach as many men and boys as possible so that we can build a better future together.

Start by making the White Ribbon Promise to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women and girls. Making the White Ribbon Promise takes less than one minute and symbolises your personal commitment to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls. If you’ve already made the White Ribbon Promise, encourage others in your life to do so too.

Wear a White Ribbon, the international symbol of ending men’s violence against women. You can buy White Ribbons here.

Fundraise to support White Ribbon UK, the leading charity working with men and boys to end men’s violence against women and girls. The work of the White Ribbon movement aims to empower men to challenge harmful cultures and restrictive gender norms so women can live full lives, unrestricted by the fear of violence. Providing spaces to talk about White Ribbon’s aims in schools, at work, and with your friends, is an incredibly powerful way to affect change.

Donate to White Ribbon UK. It’s a simple act and means we can carry on our important work to engage men and boys to transform harmful cultures for women and girls.

Become a change maker and join a diverse network of allies and advocates. White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions are individuals who’ve decided to take their commitment to ending men’s violence against women and girls to the next level.

Get your organisation involved. Workplaces can affect real change for men and women by becoming White Ribbon Accredited and Supporter Organisations.

For men and boys

  • The sad reality is, that the majority of violence against women is perpetrated by men. Whether that is a partner, ex-partner, colleague, or stranger.

    White Ribbon UK recognises that not all men are violent. All men can end violence against women and girls by challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours.

  • White Ribbon began in Canada in 1991. At that time, very few men were involved in the issue of ending violence against women, despite men being the perpetrators. There was very little work being done to engage men in the prevention of violence. White Ribbon was founded with the intention of getting to the root of the problem: harmful masculine traits and social norms around what it means to be a man.

    From its beginnings, White Ribbon joined with other campaigns around the world to mark the 25th of November. The White Ribbon became an important symbol for ending men’s violence against women. White Ribbon was one of the voices that campaigned for the UN recognition of the 25th of November as The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which was designated by the UN in 2000. If violence against women is to be eliminated it remains essential that men become part of the solution for change.

  • Allyship is the active support of the rights of a minority or marginalised group without being a member of it.

    To end violence against women and girls, men and boys need to be allies and challenge harmful behaviours and attitudes that affect the lives of women and girls.

    • Make the White Ribbon Promise to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.

    • Wear a White Ribbon year round.

    • Challenge sexist attitudes and behaviour when you see and hear it.

For everyone

  • The Istanbul Convention is the most comprehensive legal framework that exists to tackle violence against women and girls. The Istanbul Convention became enforceable in the UK on 1st November 2022.

    The Istanbul Convention sets minimum standards for governments to meet when tackling violence against women. The Convention is based on 4 key pillars, with the first concerning prevention.

    Articles 12.1 and 12.4 call for social and cultural change, engaging individuals and especially men and boys, to actively prevent harmful attitudes and behaviours that lead to and perpetuate violence against women and girls.

    This is why White Ribbon UK is calling on you to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls. So that we can create positive cultural and social change to end violence against women.

  • Fundraising for White Ribbon is an important way to show your support for the prevention of violence against women. These funds are vital to ensuring White Ribbon UK are able to carry on our work. Get started.

  • Purchase the official T-shirt for White Ribbon Day 2023 while supplies last. Buy your limited edition T-shirt today while stock lasts.