The London Borough of Harrow is supporting the White Ribbon campaign to raise awareness and stop violence against women and girls. White Ribbon Day took place yesterday on 25 November and encourages men and boys to take action to end male violence against women and girls.
This year’s theme focuses on allyship under the message ‘it starts with men.’ Men are encouraged to be allies by listening to, learning from, and supporting women and girls.
White Ribbon Day also marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, which runs until 10 December, International Human Rights Day. The campaign aims to promote gender equality, healthy relationships, and encourage men to speak out against gender-based violence.
A Conversation Café event will be held on Tuesday, 3 December, from 11am to 2pm at St Peter’s Church, Sumner Road, West Harrow HA1 4BX. Attendees can meet council staff, community partners, and specialists in domestic abuse, harmful practices, and stalking. More details about the event can be found online.
Cllr Pritesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety, said: “I’m an ally and I’m proud to support White Ribbon Day. Harrow should be a place for women to feel safe to live, work and visit. We cannot just stand by and allow violence against women to happen. That’s why I am encouraging everyone in Harrow to be an ally.
“Being an ally means advocating for gender equality, creating safe spaces and challenging harmful behaviours and stereotypes.
“In Harrow we are committed to protecting women and girls. Several programs of support are available to those experiencing domestic abuse and other forms of violence. Together we can help protect vulnerable people and keep our borough safe.”
The council encourages residents to listen to the women and girls in their lives, believe and support them, as one in three women in the UK will experience gender-based violence at some point in their life. Residents are also encouraged to learn more about gender equality and understand how behaviours and attitudes can lead to violence. Being a good role model and creating safe spaces at home and work is another key step. Knowing where to direct people for support is essential, and the council provides a directory of support services on its website. Calling out inappropriate behaviour in public is also important, as challenging harmful behaviours helps bring about change.
For those interested in learning more about standing up against street harassment, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and L’Oreal are running a free online training session on Thursday, 28 November, from 1pm to 1.30pm. Bookings can be made online.
The council also highlighted several ongoing initiatives. A Safer Spaces Survey allows residents to provide feedback on safe and unsafe locations in Harrow. Fourteen Safe Havens across the borough provide spaces where individuals can seek refuge if they feel unsafe.
The Domestic Abuse Service, run in partnership with Cranstoun, is available to support those experiencing abuse. The service can be contacted on 020 8129 5438 or through Cranstoun’s website.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
