- Conference
- 2022 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 22 February 2022
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference condemns all violent and abusive behaviour including bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Evidence shows that the vast majority of people subjected to violent and abusive behaviour are women and girls and most perpetrators are men and boys. Despite this gender-based violence is still seen as a women’s issue.
Conference recognises that this attitude needs to change as it is only men and boys who can end male violence against women.
White Ribbon UK (WRUK) is the leading charity that engages with men and boys to make a stand to end gender-based violence. They encourage everyone, but particularly men and boys, to take action to end male violence against women.
White Ribbon Day is held on 25 November each year to coincide with the United Nation’s International Day of the Eradication of Violence Against Women and is the start of 16 Days of Action to end male violence against women. The theme for the latest campaign was #AllMenCan.
White Ribbon Promise: WRUK’s mission is for all men to fulfil the promise to never commit, never excuse and never remain silent about male violence against women.
White Ribbon Ambassadors are men, from all walks of life, who are work with WRUK to change the cultures that lead to violence against women.
White Ribbon Champions are people, many of whom are women, who work with WRUK to encourage men to get involved in ending violence against women by finding opportunities to inspire and inform through presentations, conversations and on social media.
White Ribbon Accreditation is awarded to organisations of any size who can demonstrate their commitment to tackling male violence against women and girls. By developing and implementing an action plan to achieve accreditation organisations can improve their culture, safety and morale; increase knowledge and skills; improve their reputation and become both a provider and employer of choice.
White Ribbon Supporter Organisation is available to organisations with under 250 employees who don’t feel able to apply for full accreditation but who commit to taking seven actions to show they are working to end male violence against women.
While some cases of gender-based violence might make local or even national news there are many more that we never hear about. One in three women in the UK experience domestic abuse, over 80% of women have been harassed in public and more than 20% of women over 16 have experienced some type of sexual assault. Some of these women are UNISON Members.
Newcastle City UNISON Branch was pleased to support Newcastle City Council’s successful application for White Ribbon Accreditation. Some Branch Members have signed up to become Ambassadors and Champions, some have taken the White Ribbon Promise and the Branch is working towards achieving accredited or supporter status.
With around 1.4 million members, UNISON is the UK’s biggest union but although some Branches have achieved White Ribbon Accreditation UNISON hasn’t. UNISON leads the way on equalities and now is time to take the lead in tackling gender-based violence by achieving White Ribbon Accreditation.
Conference instructs the National Executive Council to:
1)Begin the process of applying for White Ribbon Accreditation with the aim of becoming accredited before National Delegate Conference in 2023;
2)Write to all branches encouraging them to become accredited or supporter organisations and individual members to take the White Ribbon Promise and become Ambassadors and Champions;
3)Publicise details of all branches who achieve accreditation or supporter status on the UNISON website and social media channels;
4)Work with Self-Organised Groups, young members and retired members to identify additional actions that UNISON can take to help tackle other types of violent and abusive behaviour.