Marking White Ribbon Day

Thursday morning saw an extraordinary event take place at the Sound Lounge in Sutton High Street. So many of us came together to promote White Ribbon Day and commit to ending male violence against women and girls. Together we made the White Ribbon pledge "to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls”.
 
Many of the men at the event talked about their horror at the abuse, intimidation and physical and verbal violence that women are exposed to on a regular basis. They spoke as fathers and brothers, husbands and partners, sons and friends. They recognised - as we all do - that the vast majority of men are kind and respectful, but they agreed - as we all do - that it is the responsibility of all men to be the solution, to call out abuse when we witness it and to take a stand against insulting, hurtful and unacceptable language and behaviour.
 
We were shown this very powerful video of men saying just that. We also heard from the police Borough Commander, council officers, councillors, leaders in the voluntary and community sector, staff working at Sutton Housing Partnership and many other partner organisations as they stated their determination to ensure that things must change.
 
Above all we heard from young men attending our schools - Carshalton Boys, John Fisher, Sutton Grammar - and young professional football players at Sutton United. Listening to young men recognising the problem and committing to changing attitudes and behaviours made us all realise that there is hope for the future and that the next generation of girls and boys can grow up in a world which is fairer, kinder and safer.
 
From marking White Ribbon Day yesterday, we pledge to tackle violence against women, and to work with men and boys to create a world in which we are all more equal, more supportive and more safe.

Cllr Ruth Dombey