Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to give some public profile to a nationwide campaign recently re-established here in Yellowknife. Viewers and visitors in the gallery may have noticed that some of us today are wearing a white ribbon on our lapel. The White Ribbon Campaign began in Canada in 1991 when a handful of men decided that they have the responsibility to urge men to speak out about violence against women. They used a white ribbon to symbolize men’s opposition to violence against women.
In its first year, 100,000 men across Canada wore a white ribbon while countless others were drawn into discussions and debate. The White Ribbon Campaign now operates in over 50 countries across the globe.
We all know that our Territory struggles with a significant amount of family violence, one aspect of which is violence against women. It exists in every one of our communities. We hear far too many news stories about women who have been injured or killed due to violence. The NWT is lucky to have a number of shelters for women and families fleeing violence, but the preference would be that we don’t have to have any.
A promotional campaign such as the White Ribbon Campaign can only add to the public awareness and education that is so necessary to fight violence against women in the Northwest Territories. Recently a group of courageous men formed a White Ribbon Campaign here in Yellowknife, focusing on educating young men, raising awareness, opening discussion and attempting to redefine men’s values. The campaign is set to run between November 25th, which is the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, and December 6th, Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
I urge men everywhere to take the White Ribbon Pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
