IT’S TIME FOR US ALL TO SWEAR IN ST KILDA
St Kilda needs to be a safe and welcoming place for women – and men need to take the lead in making this happen, say organisers of the St Kilda White Ribbon Day 2011 event.
White Ribbon Day is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and this year there is a local focus for the traders, police, MPs and the community of St Kilda to come together to take a stand on the issue.
Host of the event, Claire Wyndham from Robarta said “We want to take a stand to make St Kilda a safer and more welcoming place for the women who live here, those who work here, and the thousands of women who visit here”
National White Ribbon Day Chairperson Andrew O’Keefe will be leading the swearing event and is asking men in St Kilda to sign up to the oath and take responsibility to end violence against women. “St Kilda men can join our campaign to stop violence against women by swearing the White Ribbon Oath” he said.
“White Ribbon encourages Australian men of all ages to swear an oath to stop the violence wherever it occurs,” Mr O’Keefe said “The Oath goes beyond just clicking a button. It’s a symbol of your commitment to stand up for the women in your life. It’s an active statement, which you make to the world and provides an opportunity for men to be part of real, positive change.”
State Member for Albert Park, Martin Foley MP believed the event was a great local initiative. “St Kilda has an undeserved reputation for violence, but we can make it more inviting, friendly and safe for women by the men in our community taking responsibility to end violence” he said.
“I welcome the partnership between The White Ribbon Day Foundation, the St Kilda venues and businesses, student organisations and local Police in taking positive action on this issue” he said
Martin Foley (right) promotes White Ribbon Day in 2009 on St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street with Victoria Police District Inspector, Lisa Hardeman, and 2009 White Ribbon Day Board Member Leigh Gassner.
National Union of Students Women’s Officer Courtney Sloane said the event was important to her members. “Young women students make up a lot of the St Kilda’s community, its workforce and our women love the venues of this, Melbourne’s social playground. But research shows that female students in particular are too often subjected to violence.” She said
“Female students demand the right to feel safe and valued whether on campus, in the home, working, or when they are out enjoying themselves and I encourage the male students to take the Oath and commit to ending violence against women” Ms Sloane said
Victoria Police District Inspector David Blencowe said “Violence against women is a crime where ever it occurs. Victoria Police take this issue seriously. We will enforce the law wherever we can. But the best solution is to eliminate the violence before it starts.”
“Programs like White Ribbon Day and the focus on hot spots like St Kilda is a great move. We urge all men – whether visiting or a part of the St Kilda community - to take responsibility for their actions and those of their peers and not be silent and condone violence against women when they see it” he said.
The local white Ribbon Day event is scheduled for Thursday, 24th November at 6pm at Robarta, 109 – 111 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda.
Paul O’Brien, from Home and Away will be on hand to MC the event and introduce representatives of the community and National White Day Ribbon Chairperson Andrew O’Keefe to take the Oath. ‘I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my Oath.’
For more information contact the office of Martin Foley MP on 9646 7173 or visit
Download the poster (A3 PDF) here.
