Male and institutional attitudes about violence against women are gradually changing for the better, according to the White Ribbon Campaign, now in its 17th year of “men working to end men’s violence against women.”

“We see a greater willingness on the part of men to try and understand, and change,” said Todd Minerson, the campaign’s executive director. “We see increased willingness on the part of traditional women’s organizations to partner on projects, incorporate outside views and look at the problem in non-traditional ways.”

The Toronto-based WRC urges Canadian men and boys to wear a white ribbon every year from Nov. 25, the U.N.’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, until Dec. 6, Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Dec. 6, 1989 is forever etched into Canadian history as the day 13 female engineering students and a female worker were murdered at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal.

YWCA Canada also runs its commemorative rose button campaign at this time every year, the organization’s way of “commemorating not only the young women students who were killed for having dared to dream a professional dream, but as well the memory of all women, young women and girls who have died as a result of violence against women.”

Continuing the campaigns each year is important, Minerson said.

“Despite attitudinal changes, violence against women is still an endemic problem but at least we have gone from having to convince people of the need to work at this, to actually working with governments and institutions on how to do it,” he said. “It’s a subtle change, but significant.”

Status of Women Canada reports the latest statistics show “women constitute the vast majority of victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. They also represent the highest percentage of spousal homicide victims . . . December 6 is a day for Canadians to reflect, and work towards concrete actions and solutions to ensure the safety of women and girls in their communities so that they may reach their fullest potential.”

On the Net

White Ribbon Campaign:
www.whiteribbon.ca

Rose Button Campaign:
www.ywcacanada.ca