White ribbon campaign commenced

26 November 2007
Report: Soodh

Ministry of Gender and Family has revealed that that a campaign to eliminate all sorts of violence against women has commenced yesterday. The campaign dubbed white ribbon enlists the participation of men more than any other program held for the elimination of violence against women, will be held for period of 16 days in all the inhabited islands of the Maldives. The whit ribbon campaign is held as part of the programs held by the Gender Ministry to mark the International Day for the elimination of violence against women. The day is marked on the 25 of November each year.

White ribbon is symbolic of a pledge taken to refrain from any violence against women, not to permit such acts and not be silent on such acts. Specially prepared white ribbons will be pinned on to the clothing worn during the period of the campaign in order to bring white ribbon pledge to the attention of as many as possible. Gender Ministry says white ribbons and special book marks prepared for the occasion will be sent to government offices and private sector offices,

The other programs held by the Gender Ministry to mark the day include launching of a special poster, organizing special meetings in all islands of the country to give information to the public on the issue, providing information on the elimination of violence against women through the media, and organizing a documentary film festival for the public.

Family and Children Service Centers established in the atolls in partnership with island offices and committees working for the development of women will be holding many programs to mark the day and such programs will be aired by national TV and radio said the Gender Ministry.

According to Gender Ministry the white ribbon campaign was first held in 1991 by a group of Canadian men who recognized the responsibility men have in the elimination of violence against women.

Gender Ministry said that this is the second year the international day on the elimination of violence against women is marked in Maldives.

On the occasion of the day the Executive Director of UNFPA Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said that collective success in achieving peace and security and making poverty history depends on our ability to end discrimination and violence against women and girls.