Additional funding for the White Ribbon Foundation to break the silence about violence against women

Access to information on how to get involved in preventing and reducing violence against women will be improved thanks to $30,000 in funding from the Australian Government to upgrade the White Ribbon Foundation website.

The Minister for the Status of Women, Kate Ellis said the internet was an important avenue to connect people to major social issues and bring about behavioural change.

Ms Ellis said the funds will allow the White Ribbon Foundation to migrate and refresh content from www.whiteribbonday.org.au and www.myoath.com.au to a single new web site, www.whiteribbon.org.au.

“Combining these two web sites makes it easier for people to find out more about the White Ribbon Campaign and how to get involved by taking an oath to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women, becoming a White Ribbon Ambassador, or just getting involved in White Ribbon Day activities,” Ms Ellis said.

“We are delighted to help the White Ribbon Foundation strengthen its internet presence and continue its innovative social media activities which help keep the prevention and reduction of violence against women on the public radar.”

Prominent Australians from all walks of life including sporting figures, singers, actors, politicians and businessmen have all publicly pledged to never harm women as part of the My Oath campaign.

Ms Ellis said that the My Oath campaign had been very positive in breaking the silence about violence against women.

“The White Ribbon Campaign has had some great successes in creating public awareness of domestic violence and encouraging men and boys to take positive actions to stop violence against women and change attitudes and behaviour.

White Ribbon Day, on November 25, marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The day serves as a reminder that over their lifetime, around one in three Australian women will experience physical violence and almost one in five will experience sexual violence.

“The Government has a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women,” Ms Ellis said.

“All Australian Governments have committed to reducing domestic violence through the historic National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and the White Ribbon Foundation are playing an important role in progressing the objectives of that Plan.”

This new funding comes in addition to the $1 million over four years that the Australian Government is providing to the White Ribbon Foundation to develop a program to implement violence prevention strategies in the workplace and assist staff to speak out about violence against women.

The new content on www.whiteribbon.org.au will be available from September 1.