To date seven lives within the South West have been lost in 2018 to family violence, 28 lives have been lost state-wide – it is this statistic and many like it that drive home why White Ribbon Day and similar events are so important.
Bunbury White Ribbon Day organiser Hovea Wilkes said it was about challenging the beliefs and the behaviours of a small number of men who perpetrated violence towards women and making it a community responsibility.
“Across WA it has been a particularly horrific year in terms of fatalities and lives lost to domestic homicide,” she said.
“Every life that is lost is devastating, whether it occurs in a family or group context or it’s a single homicide.
“Child protection is everyone’s issue, family violence is also everyone’s issue.”
The Bunbury community is being encouraged to unite this Friday for White Ribbon Day to support the positive role men can play to stop violence against women.
A silent march will be held through the city at 10.30am before a commemorative service at ANZAC Park with two guest speakers and laying of wreaths followed by a community barbecue.
"It’s about raising awareness and leading by example and talking to people to normalise the experience and to say you’re not alone if it’s something you’ve experienced," Ms Wilkes said.
"It’s about choice, one of our speakers this year grew up in a violent household and he’s going to talk about how he made the choice not to be a violent man."
Ms Wilkes said community members should come along to show support and where they stand.
“We understand that the majority of people don’t use or condone violence against women but those people are the majority and they’re silent,” she said.
“So we’re asking people to come along, to wear white and to show where they stand, that they don’t believe violence against women is acceptable and they do believe that it is something that as a community we can prevent.”
WA Police South West Family Domestic Violence Unit officer in charge Don McLean said it was about starting the conversation and advocating for change.
“The idea is to try and make violence against women not just a men’s issue, but making it public and having it discussed openly,” he said.
“Stop being silent about violence within our community, and stop judging women who are victims.”
- South West Refuge CEO Michelle Bickers
“What we’re trying to do is let people know that there is support services out there that people are willing to listen to your story and that agencies are there to help in many different ways.”
Mr McLean said change in attitudes needed to be part of the solution.
“It’s about turning the silent majority of people that don’t condone family violence into a vocal majority,” he said.
“It’s not just physical violence we’re speaking about, there is emotional violence, isolation, financial violence, controlling funds, monitoring social media, cutting off from friends and family, sexual violence.
“What we sometimes find is that when we do engage with victims of family violence they often don’t see themselves as victims because they haven’t been punched but they’ve still been subject to family violence along those other avenues.”
In 2017, one life was taken in the South West while another six across Western Australia was lost, with this years numbers showing a significant increase.
South West Refuge chief executive Michelle Bickers said the day helped to raise awareness and encouraged men to speak up and stand up for the protection of women and children.
“The South West community is not immune to family and domestic violence and recent figures have regrettably indicated an increase in reported incidents,” she said.
“It is tragic the number of lives recently lost, and it is time to take a stand and support this event to protect women and children from serious harm.”
“Stop being silent about violence within our community, and stop judging women who are victims.”
Anyone affected by family or domestic violence should call the national family and domestic violence counselling and support service on 1800RESPECT.
