This year, White Ribbon Day on 25th November, and the following UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Discrimination, fall at the same time as the FIFA men’s World Cup.
There has never been a better time for us to focus on the good that can come from unifying and supporting one common cause.
#TheGoal calls on people to make the White Ribbon Promise and identifies 11 traits men and boys can nurture to become better allies, one for each player on a football team.
There is a negative culture, created by some sports fans travelling to events on public transport, that can compound fears of safety for women.
The White Ribbon Day campaign #TheGoal will reach into this space, and this audience, to encourage fans, football clubs, and companies in the rail industry to make the White Ribbon Promise to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.
White Ribbon is partnering with 16 rail industry companies and organisations, including police and regional transport operators, to deliver a far-reaching campaign to raise awareness about ending harmful cultures that lead to men’s violence against women and girls.
On 25th November, train stations managed by Network Rail across England will be hosting an event space with trained volunteers encouraging people to make the White Ribbon Promise, alongside local women’s specialist support organisations promoting their services and the Rail to Refuge scheme.
Stations include Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, and in London, Kings Cross and Waterloo.
Activities will be taking place from 9 am to 6 pm in all stations, with volunteers helping members of the public make the White Ribbon Promise.
Birmingham New Street will be the flagship train station where members of the public will be able to make the White Ribbon Promise and show their support by tying luggage tags onto a goalpost with their names and reasons for supporting White Ribbon Day.
The goalpost has been kindly donated for the day by Birmingham City Football Club, who are also throwing their support behind White Ribbon Day, along with football clubs at all levels in England and Wales throughout November and December.
White Ribbon Day, Friday 25th November, will see train and freight operation companies including West Midlands Trains, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, CrossCountry and Greater Anglia, and many more, adorn trains with White Ribbon designs.
It should be remembered that the public transport industry has a higher proportion of men than women in its workforce. The White Ribbon Day campaign, shared in workplaces through these organisations, will support this culture change both internally and externally.
Senior leaders from 16 companies and organisations from the rail industry, police and regional transport operators, will come together to discuss industry-wide commitments to women’s safety for both employees and passengers.
The space for this meeting has been kindly donated by Marriott Hotels, recognising the importance of these important conversations for women’s safety.
To ensure White Ribbon UK can take #TheGoal to a very wide audience, The Community Channel by JC Decaux— which enables non-profits and charities to expand their media reach— will feature our campaign on roadside boards across England and Wales for a duration of six weeks. JCDecaux boards inside Network Rail stations will also carry #TheGoal message.
Everyone has a role to play to achieve #TheGoal, which is why White Ribbon has made available a suite of resources for free download to use in workplaces, schools, football grounds and in bars and pubs: www.whiteribbon.org.uk/whiteribbonday22-digital-resources
You still have time to order your White Ribbon to wear year-round here: www.whiteribbon.org.uk/shop
For a complete list of events and activities planned this week, visit the White Ribbon website: www.whiteribbon.org.uk/activities