16 Days campaign launching soon to highlight issues of gender-based violence
An early launch of East Ayrshire’s 16 Days of Action campaign took place at SL66 in Cumnock this week, starting off a series of East Ayrshire events that will raise awareness of gender-based violence from 25 November until 10 December.
Spearheaded by East Ayrshire’s Violence Against Women Partnership, the campaign features a programme of informative and inclusive events which are being supported by partner agencies. The theme this year is ‘All together to prevent and end violence against women and girls’.
Encouraging people to sign the White Ribbon Scotland pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms will be a running theme throughout the campaign, and Scotrail will be supporting this by hosting a White Ribbon pledge signing event at Kilmarnock train station on Thursday 4 December from 10am to 4pm.
Pledge signings will also be held at supermarkets across East Ayrshire during the campaign, but if you can’t make it in person, you can sign the pledge online at: https://www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk/make-your-pledge/
Other events taking place include a Reclaim the Night march on the evening of Tuesday 25 November, organised by the STAR Centre, which encourages people to stand against gender-based violence. Everyone is welcome to join the march around Kilmarnock town centre which will leave from Tesco Extra car park on West Shaw Street at 5.30pm.
The Council will also light the Kilmarnock viaduct orange on 25 November to place a spotlight on the issue of violence against women and girls.
Councillor Jim McMahon, East Ayrshire’s White Ribbon Champion, said: “We are pleased to once again be supporting the 16 Days campaign as we see every year how it brings people together to work towards eliminating gender-based violence, as well as encouraging us all to take action to support women and girls in our communities.
“Throughout the 16 Days of Action campaign we will be encouraging as many people as possible to support the White Ribbon Scotland pledge. By making this pledge, you can show others that it's okay to speak out against violence against women. The more we are willing to do this, the more we can help to change harmful attitudes that condone it.”
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