The Attorney General, Brian Wightman, and the Minister for Human Services, Cassy O’Connor, today urged Tasmanians to support White Ribbon Day and do all they can to eliminate violence against women.
Mr Wightman said the White Ribbon Day campaign calls on men to take an oath to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
 
“Men have a particularly important role to play in creating a culture in which violent or threatening behaviour is unacceptable,” Mr Wightman said.
 
“Men and women across Australia are encouraged to wear a white ribbon tomorrow as a symbol of their commitment to never commit, excuse, or remain silent about violence against women.
 
“It is regrettable that the most common form of violence experienced by women across the globe is physical violence inflicted by their intimate partner, the costs of that violence are enormous.
 
“Victims can suffer a range of physical and mental health problems and their ability to participate in public life can be severely diminished.”
 
Ms O’Connor said that, in Australia, one in three women would be assaulted or abused in their lifetime.
 
“This is completely unacceptable, and we must do more to change this awful statistic,” she said.
 
“In Tasmania last financial year, Police attended 4,361 family violence matters. Nearly all of the victims were women, and many had their children physically present at the time.
 
“The children of abused women are, of course, also victims of family violence.”
 
Ms O’Connor congratulated family violence support services which have, in partnership with Zonta Club, actively encouraged 50 prominent men from all walks of life across the North and North-West to become White Ribbon Day ambassadors.
 
“These groups have also organised Young Victorian of the Year, Angela Barker, to speak at several schools about the need for respectful relationships, following her horrific experience of violence at the hands of her former partner,” she said.
 
Both Mr Wightman and Ms O’Connor urged Tasmanian men to take the White Ribbon Day oath online at www.whiteribbon.org.au/myoath