Derby City White Ribbon Campaign – Monday 18th November to Monday 25th November
White Ribbon Day is an International Day of Awareness where men and boys show their commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
This White Ribbon Day, we’re encouraging men to hold themselves accountable to women, and to each other, so we can affect positive behaviour change to transform harmful cultures.
Violence against women and girls is rooted in harmful masculine norms. Starting with men, we must address the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to a fear of violence for women in their day-to-day lives.
Following on from the success of our 2023 White Ribbon Day campaign, we have worked with 7 young people from across Derby City to create a social media campaign for 2024 based on the White Ribbon theme this year which is "It Starts With Men" with an emphasis on "It Starts With ME" - empowering men of any age to break the cycle of misogynistic and violent language and behaviour which contributes to the prevalence of violence towards women and girls.
We invite Derby City schools, organisations and businesses to share these messages and get involved in the campaign by asking their male students and colleagues to wear white ribbons, to organise fundraising or awareness events for local women's charities and groups, or to simply share our images across their own social media platforms and amongst their networks.
The White Ribbon Campaign video from 2023 was produced along with Derby Theatre, by young people and for young people to #ChangeTheStory. The video was funded by Derby City Council, Derby Youth Alliance and Community Action Derby and features Joe Wildsmith from Derby County Football Club, Wayne Madsen from Derbyshire County Cricket Club and local music artist Scriptz who were in support of the campaign. The video was produced by local producers Goldbox Productions with support from Derby Theatre.
Last year's video was nominated for the National Crimebeat Awards 2023/24 and achieved third place, it was also awarded The High Sheriff's Association Award! The prize money from this award helped to fund the 2024 campaign for White Ribbon Day.
Regarding the 2023 campaign, Derby's Youth Mayor, Munti (Muhammad Muntasir) said: “I've chosen to support the White Ribbon Campaign to raise awareness against violence perpetrated towards young women and girls as it relates greatly towards my aim of Community Safety. Upon feedback raised by young people during my presentations at secondary schools, it is evident that cases of violence amongst young people (especially young women) are still prevalent and require our urgent attention. So, I see the White Ribbon Campaign as a valuable step towards the right direction in not just educating our young people on appropriate behaviour and language towards women but taking what they have learned into action - for everyone's benefit”.
Young people from Voices in Action Youth Council co-produced the White Ribbon campaign and video with Derby Theatre. (2023)
Some of the young men from the Voices in Action Youth Council helped to create over 6000 ribbons to distribute to schools and community groups across Derby City to raise awareness of the White Ribbon Day campaign. (2023)
Young women from Voices in Action Youth Council and Derby Theatre Youth Theatre group were filmed as the representation of statistics for the campaign video. (2023)
Derby Youth Mayor Munti played a key role in the video and demonstrated being a young male who is prepared to stand up and speak out amongst his peers. (2023)
For more information, please contact michelle.butler@communityactionderby.org.uk or adele.styles@derby.gov.uk .