The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) was formed by a group of men in Ontario, Canada in November 1991, 30 years ago, as a response to the École Polytechnique massacre of female students in 1989.

It was a combined effort to raise awareness about the frequent occurrence of male violence against women, with the ribbon symbolising “the idea of men giving up their arms”.

Tomorrow, November 25, is White Ribbon Day, a global movement of men and boys working to end male violence against women and girls, which has spread to more than 60 countries and is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women.

A march will start at 4.30pm tomorrow from the Marie Nui Dr seaside grass park (opposite IDCK) to Terevete Park.

Everyone is encouraged to participate and kindly asked to assemble at 4pm dressed in black, orange or white.

Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAFF) social policy unit manager Rebecca Hosking-Ellis said the White Ribbon movement started in the Cook Islands in 2007, initiated by police working in partnership with Punanga Tauturu Inc (PTI) Women's Counselling Centre.

The Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme (PPDVP) was created because the Pacific Chiefs of Police were concerned about domestic violence in all the Pacific countries; four countries were chosen - Cook Islands, Kiribati and Tonga and Samoa to lead the project, said Hosking-Ellis.

“Today, we all know domestic violence is still happening, it’s a good thing that men are standing up and want to help to find a way to eliminate domestic violence,” she added.

According to Cook Islands Police reports, since mid-November, police have registered the equivalent of last year’s annual total of domestic violence (DV) offenses, “while the annual DV figures are well below the high of 2018, the present pattern is a concern”. 

“Last year’s DV offenses reached 73 while the 2018 total was 112,” noted the report.

The police are playing a support role in White Ribbon Day with a church service at St Joseph’s Cathedral starting at 7am - everyone is welcome to attend.

A variety of stalls will be available at Terevete Park from 3pm; at 5pm keynote speakers will address the audience and from 5.45pm live entertainment will continue until 9pm.

Unfortunately there are no white ribbons available in stores so people are asked to provide their own ribbons in support of the campaign.