26 November 2019
Monday, 25 November was the United Nations (UN) White Ribbon Day 2019 – a day used to raise awareness about all kinds of abuse.
On St Helena, the UN Development Programme Safe Haven Project and the Children & Adults Social Care Directorate ran a week-long awareness raising campaign to recognise White Ribbon Day 2019.
Around the world, White Ribbon awareness focusses on men taking a stand against domestic violence. The White Ribbon Day Committee chose to change the focus from targeting males and decided that the aim and vision would be to use the voices of the male and female population of St Helena to encourage all on the Island to ‘Speak Out and Stand Up’ against all kinds of abuse, irrespective of gender and age.
The Campaign concluded yesterday with a peaceful march from Napoleon Street to the Castle Gardens for a closing ceremony.
During the ceremony, a number of speeches were given, including a reading of the poem ‘Returning Faith’. A rose bush was also planted and a plaque laid in the Castle Gardens in honour of survivors and victims of domestic abuse.
In HE’s speech, Acting Governor, Greg Gibson, said:
“The Campaign is different in focus this year, asking everyone on St Helena – male and female, young and old – for us together as a society to support victims and ‘Speak Out and Stand Up’ about all kinds of abuse. It is that message to ‘Speak Out and Stand Up’ I wish to reiterate. Only by doing this together can we achieve the society we all want.”
Director of Children & Adults Social Care, Tracy Poole-Nandy, added:
“We are here today to raise awareness of domestic abuse and to reach out to the community to ensure that we stand against this abuse and to make sure we support survivors so they can continue their lives safely.”
UN Project Manager (St Helena), Nicolene Adams, concluded:
“We wish to sincerely thank the United Nations Development Programme for their constant financial support that enables us through the awareness raising campaigns to improve local responses and expand service provision to the community of St Helena.”
Throughout the week-long Campaign, White Ribbon activities were held at various locations around the Island for Government, Private Sector and Non-Government Organisations. The activities included signing of pledges, which were pinned to wooden ‘family cut-outs’ and the distribution of White Ribbons and T-Shirts.
The White Ribbon Campaign Committee would like to thank everyone who have given donations to the WISH charity. A total of £117.00 has been received thus far and has been deposited into the WISH bank account.
The Committee would also like to humbly ask any participants who have received White Ribbon Campaign T-shirts to please place a donation directly into the WISH Charity bank account using the following details:
Account name: WISH Charity (Women Issues in St Helena)
Account number: 23792002
The White Ribbon Campaign Committee would like to thank everyone for their support during the White Ribbon Campaign 2019.
#StHelena #CRC #UN #RightsOfTheChild
SHG
26 November 2019