White Ribbon Australia is calling on the public to support its community engagement projects that are aimed at ending violence against women by donating to its end of financial year (EOFY) Tax Appeal Campaign before Thursday, 30 June.
White Ribbon Australia Community Partner Penny Marangos said the organisation’s work in the communities was vital in addressing the causes of violence against women. According to statistics in Australia, a man is responsible for the murder of a current or female partner every 11 days.
“A victim of gendered violence myself, being a Community Partner has been incredibly empowering,” Ms Marangos said.
“It has enabled me to use the knowledge that I have gained, as well as my personal experience, to go out into the community and start a narrative about the causes of gendered violence and how we can prevent that from happening in the future.”
She said end of financial year donations would allow White Ribbon Australia to form and offer support to more Community Action Groups and Community Partners across the country and would allow primary prevention initiatives to reach new communities.
The national director of White Ribbon Australia, Allan Ball, said that while men’s violence against women was an ongoing epidemic, it could be changed if people worked together.
“Social norms that green-light disrespect, sexual harassment and abuse are drivers of men’s violence against women. Being a ‘little bit’ sexist isn’t okay – not in the pub, on the sporting field, or in the family home,” Mr Ball said. “As a society we need to change these norms by supporting whole-of-population initiatives that address beliefs about rigid gender stereotypes and power.”
He said the organisation’s community engagement programs were bringing out real change in Australia’s communities and it was helping locally-led initiatives to develop and become more active in dealing with the problem.
“These initiatives work because the groups understand community issues and the solutions required at a local level,” Mr Ball said.
The end-of-financial-year donations would enable White Ribbon Australia to create and support more Community Action Groups and Community Partners and allow primary prevention initiatives to reach new communities in Australia.
To find out more, or to make a donation, visit: https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/Get-Involved/Tax-Appeal-2022