Today marks White Ribbon Day, an awareness day organised by the White Ribbon charity to engage with men to encourage them to recognise, call out and act against gender-based violence. White Ribbon Day also coincides with the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Both Cllr Vince Maple and Cllr Clive Johnson from the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group are White Ribbon Ambassadors.

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group said:

“I am extremely concerned about indications of an increase in domestic violence nationally – the number of calls domestic abuse hotlines have been receiving have increased by 22% in the last year.

“These statistics, plus the recent murders of Julia James, Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and many others, go to show that the need to support this campaign is just as necessary this year as it ever has been.

“I have been a White Ribbon Ambassador for several years now, and I would encourage other men to support this campaign and to be part of the root and branch change we need to eliminate gender-based violence.”

Cllr Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Spokesperson for Children and Young People added:

“Male violence against women plagues our society. It is shocking that two women a week are killed by a current or former partner and that 1.6 million women experience domestic abuse each year.”

“Bolder, decisive action is required to tackle the endemic levels of violence against women in our country. I am White Ribbon ambassador and strongly believe that the call for more men to step up to the plate and be more active in calling out male violence is part of the wide-scale approach we need to tackle this problem.”

“I would also like to encourage all Medway employers and organisations to consider becoming White Ribbon accredited organisations, helping to play their part in reducing male violence and building a safer society for women.”