In line with previous years, the event seeks to raise awareness for White Ribbon Day on the 25th of November, which is also known as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The vigil will begin at 5:30pm on Taff Street, outside the Council’s Llys Cadwyn building. Alex Davies Jones MP for Pontypridd will be opening the event, followed by talks from Councillor Maureen Webber, Deputy Leader of the Council and closing remarks from Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Communities. RCT YEPS will also be performing a short play, and we will be providing the opportunity for members of the public to lay down battery tealight candles during our candlelit vigil.
We welcome anyone who would like to attend the event to show their respect and support with us, as we remember the lives of women and girls who have been taken from us far too soon as a result of male violence.
Councillor Bob Harris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, and Communities, said:
“This Council pledges to continue to prioritise and invest in services, resources, education, and policy that focus on the prevention of violence against women and girls within our County Borough.
Keeping our residents safe and free from harm is embedded in everything we do here in the Council, and we will illustrate this through fulfilling the priorities set out in White Ribbon’s #ChangeTheStory campaign.
This includes continuing to demonstrate that #AllMenCan take an active role in violence prevention against women and girls.
Together we can hold perpetrators accountable and educate men and boys to challenge the societal norms that allow for violence and harm to persist in our communities”.
White Ribbon Day is the largest global initiative to end men’s violence against women and girls and their campaigns have been leading the way in calling on men to make consistent choices and actions to recognise and prevent harmful behaviours that too often lead to male violence against women and girls.
Alex Davies-Jones, Member of Parliament for Pontypridd, said:
“It is an honour and a privilege to support Rhondda Cynon Taf once again in organising the White Ribbon Day candlelit vigil. This annual event will provide us with an important opportunity to remember and mourn all of the women and girls who have lost their lives at the hands of male violence.
Ending violence against women and girls is not a women’s issue and it starts when we #ChangeTheStory. Every man has a part to play in making ending male violence against women a reality and it’s incredibly important that they lead by example as strong allies.
We all need to call out and challenge the seemingly ‘harmless’ attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence for women and girls. I hope to see so many people standing in solidarity at the candlelit vigil.”
This year through their #ChangeTheStory campaign, White Ribbon has called upon organisations and individuals to challenge the seemingly ‘harmless’ attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence and change the narrative around women’s safety. Violence against women is not a women’s issue and women should not have to be responsible for navigating threats to their own safety.
As a Council we will continue to work alongside our partners, including South Wales Police, RCT Domestic Abuse Service, and our local housing providers to sustain the highest level of assistance we can, to support and protect our residents from having to live in fear of violence.
Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, said: “Ending violence against women starts when we #ChangeTheStory and we can’t do that without political leadership.
Councils can make a significant difference to ending violence against women and girls. By working together, we can make change happen. Your role can encourage and amplify this support.
Together we can #ChangeTheStory to end gender-based violence for all women and girls”.
Subsequently, we will be taking part in White Ribbon’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, attending their expert online events, and we will wear a white ribbon on November 25th as a symbol of our declaration to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
We hope to welcome you at this year’s candlelit vigil, wearing your white ribbons, and we encourage everyone to participate in the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Together we can #ChangeTheStory.
