Wednesday 25 November marks White Ribbon Day where people are encouraged to wear a white ribbon as a pledge to end male violence against women. Wearers are making a promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. Tower Hamlets residents can also make the promise by signing Tower Hamlets Council's White Ribbon online pledge.
25 November coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and girls, marking the beginning of 16 Days of Activism against gender violence. The campaign will run until Human Rights Day on 10 December and is an opportunity for everyone to take action to increase awareness of violence against women and girls.
Domestic abuse, violence against women and gender violence
Violence against women and gender violence refer to a range of abuses that stem from gender inequality and includes violence occurring in the family, within the community and abuse condoned by society.
Forms of gender-based violence include, but are not limited to, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, rape, sexual harassment, stalking, trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, prostitution, ‘honour’ based abuse, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
The impact of Covid-19
For those experiencing domestic abuse, COVID-19 and lockdown may have made their situation worse as they are spending more time at home with their abuser. Abusers can use the pandemic as a tool for abuse to create fear and anxiety, increasing their control.
Help for Tower Hamlets Homes residents
You can call us in confidence on 020 7364 5015 (weekdays 8:30am to 5pm) and we will put you through to your housing officer of a member of their team. They will talk to you about what we can do to help. If THH cannot help you directly, we can refer you to organisations that can, with your consent.
National Domestic Violence Helpline:
0808 200 0247
GALOP – National LGBT & Domestic Abuse Helpline:
0800 999 5428
Karma Nirvana – for victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage:
0800 599 9247
Men’s Advice Line – support for male victims:
0808 801 0327
Respect Phoneline – support for perpetrators (male & female):
0808 802 4040
Victim Support Tower Hamlets
020 7364 2448 /7957
https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/live-chat
for support and information, including Live Chat, the Survivors’ Forum, The Survivor’s Handbook and the Domestic Abuse Directory.
If you are in immediate danger ring 999. If you need to speak to someone out
of hours call the domestic violence helpline 0808 2000 247.
Tower Hamlets Council
Tower Hamlets Council is working with partners to deliver online training, virtual events and information sessions across the 16 Days of Activism. As part of this, the council’s violence against women and girls’ team (VAWG) has teamed up with Hestia Refuge to run A Country a Day, an online project where people will share their personal experiences of domestic abuse. The series will feature survivor stories from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan as well as highlighting campaigns running in different countries to tackle domestic abuse.
Sessions will take place from 10 – 11:30am on the following dates:
Monday 30 November – Sri Lanka
Wednesday 2 December – India
Monday 7 December – Bangladesh
Thursday 10 December - Pakistan
Anyone who is interested in attending over Microsoft Teams can contact Serita.Myers@towerhamlets.gov.uk