Violence against Women and Girls

Kingston Council has taken a stand to end all male violence against women by becoming White Ribbon Accredited.

Commitments made by Kingston in its White Ribbon action plan include appointing volunteer male ambassadors as advocates to end violence against women and raising awareness of the issue within the local community. The council has also pledged to encourage partner agencies to commit to tackling male violence against women and girls, review existing policies around domestic and sexual violence and roll out bystander training.

About White Ribbon
White Ribbon UK is a leading charity engaging with men and boys to end violence against women. Their mission is for all men to fulfil the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. They act as a catalyst, encouraging people, and especially men and boys, to individually and collectively take action and change behaviour.

White Ribbon Steering Group
We have set up a steering group, to oversee the 3 year action plan taking us up to 2024 to ensure we have an effective organisation response to tackling male violence against women and girls.  The group is focused on the following priority White Ribbon core criterias:

1. Strategic Leadership
2. Engaging Men & Boys
3. Changing Culture
4. Raising Awareness

Aims & Responsibilities 

• STRATEGY: To successfully have a strategy in place for each of the key core criterias required to meet White Ribbon accreditation. 
• ACTION PLAN: To create an action plan for the strategy and adapt this accordingly throughout the White Ribbon accreditation process to maximise outcomes. The White Ribbon Accreditation Action Plan will be used to monitor progress.
• IMPLEMENTATION: To implement the action plan according to our organisational needs and to consolidate on this. 
• EMBEDDING: To embed the strategy within our organisation and enable cultural change.

16 Days of Activism - Kingston events

On White Ribbon Day Thursday 25 November, and the 16 days to end violence against women that follow, we are asking people in their communities, organisations and workplaces, to come together, and say ‘no’ to violence against women.

Kingston Council is holding this year:

-  White Ribbon stall in Eden Walk, 24 November 11am-3pm to chat to the community with our ambassadors
-  Harmful Practices Online Learning for professionals to upskill 5 December 12-1pm 
-  Launch of the new VAWG and DA frontline service for survivors, for professionals only - 6 December 10am-12pm Queen Anne Suit, Guildhall 
-  VAWG training day at Kingston University 30 November, learn more and book here. 
-  The online Change The Story campaign