UK Launch Of White Ribbon Day

(Wednesday November 25th International Day Against Violence Towards Women)

Locking Up Male Abusers Is Not The Only Option Say Women In New Poll

Most women, according to a survey, opt for tackling the underlying causes of violence by men against women - when asked how to address such violence.

They select this marginally ahead of increasing the length of prison sentences. But most men in the survey said they would like to see men who are violent against women locked up for longer.

The poll by MORI is commissioned by Womankind Worldwide, the UK's only charity set up specifically to support third world women in their fight against poverty, political or sexual oppression. The poll, which marks the launch of "White Ribbon Day" (International Day Against Violence Towards Women) interviewed a representative sample of 2,029 GB adults over the age of 14.

The launch of White Ribbon Day takes place at an international Forum chaired by Kate Adie OBE, the BBC's chief news correspondent. It also marks Womankind's expansion of their UK work.

Baroness Jay, Minister for Women and Leader of the Lords said

"Violence towards women is top of our agenda. We support the White Ribbon Day, which dramatically flags up that violence against women is a violation of human rights. Today's forum shows the way forward in rooting out the causes of violence, which in part must mean working with men".

One forum panellist is Mr Boitshepo Lesetedi, a once violent man now working to help other violent men in South Africa to change their behaviour.

Panellist Dr Kate Young, Chief Executive of Womankind Worldwide said,

"The White Ribbon is already symbolic in Canada and South Africa. Now we want to make it a recognised symbol in the UK , and internationally"

Open to the public, the forum panel includes Fiona Reynolds, Head of the Women's Unit who will preview new government policy on violence for 1999 (in place of Baroness Jay who attends the House of Lords that day for the Queen's Speech).

• Professor Sue Lees, leading sociologist and author of most recently Rape on Trial
• Lesley Ann Foster from South Africa, domestic violence survivor and founder of a leading anti-violence lobby group
• Barbara Helfferich from the Centre on Violence against Women in Brussels
• Neil Blacklock, Head of the UK Domestic Violence intervention Project.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative sample of 2,029 GB adults aged 15+. Face-to-face in 156 sampling points from 6-9 November 1998