The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the first male-led campaign working to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the world. Historically VAWG has been seen as a ‘women’s issue’ and the WRC is an attempt to redress this notion. The WRC originated in Canada in the early 1990s and has spread to over seventy countries.
Supporters of the WRC take a pledge ‘never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms.’ Wearing a white ribbon is a public demonstration that the wearer has taken this pledge, does not excuse violence against women and is committed to supporting community action to stop violence by men against women and to achieving gender equality.
The Fearless Edinburgh Partnership is exploring a collective approach to working with WRC Scotland to achieve White Ribbon Status on college and university campuses across Edinburgh. Fearless Edinburgh is a multiagency partnership whose membership includes representatives from Edinburgh College, Edinburgh University, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, Borders College, Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, and Police Scotland. Informed by Equally Safe, the partnership’s common purpose is to deliver safer communities and culture change, to end sexual violence by challenging harmful behaviours and attitudes, and to support those impacted and build confidence.
Edinburgh College has made a commitment to achieving White Ribbon Status at senior management level and set up a working group to drive the campaign at the College, whose membership includes ECSA President Jordan Wylie. The College will now work alongside the Fearless Edinburgh institutions and WRC Scotland towards the award of White Ribbon Status.