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© 2008 APODA

Angus Partnership on Domestic Abuse

Blowing the Whistle on Violence against Women

Football clubs in Tayside have pledged their support to ending violence against women.

This year the domestic abuse partnerships in Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross have joined forces with senior clubs in the area who have agreed to give their support to the White Ribbon Campaign.

The football clubs involved include, Arbroath, Brechin, Dundee, Dundee United, Forfar, Montrose and St Johnstone.

The clubs will include information about domestic abuse in their match day programmes and on their websites. In addition, tannoy messages will be broadcast on match days and staff will wear white ribbons as a sign of support.

The White Ribbon Campaign continues to be the largest effort in the world of men working to end men's violence against women.

The campaign started in Canada in 1991 when a handful of men decided they had a responsibility to speak out against violence against women. They decided wearing a white ribbon would be a symbol of men's opposition to men's violence against women.

Every year now men and boys are urged to wear a white ribbon for one or two weeks starting on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Mark Watson, co-ordinator with the Angus Partnership on Domestic Abuse said: "Domestic abuse continues to be a serious problem for many women living in Tayside. Some men are also affected but current statistics show that over 90% of victims are women.

"I hope this campaign and the publicity generated through the football clubs will give men the opportunity to stop and think for a moment about the effects of violence against women and domestic abuse. As a first step, men should know that they can make a difference by agreeing not to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

"The good news is that more and more men do want to make a difference and most men do care about their wives and partners."

The most recent figures released by the Scottish Government highlight the extent of the problem in Tayside where 3780 incidents of domestic abuse were reported to the police during 2005/6.

Inspector Mark Duncan, Tayside Police and a member of the Dundee Domestic Abuse Forum said: "All forms of violence and abuse against women are unacceptable. It remains a concern that the police are attending around 10 incidents every day in Tayside.

"We also know that in many instances children and young people are present when the violence or abuse occurs and this can have a serious detrimental impact on them.

"I hope that this campaign will raise awareness, particularly with men, across Tayside to the problem of domestic abuse which is very often a hidden problem but one that can destroy lives."

The Domestic Abuse Partnerships operating across Tayside bring together all of the appropriate agencies locally to tackle domestic abuse and support those affected by it. Those involved include councils, Women's Aid, armed services, Barnardo's, NHS Tayside, Tayside Police, Victim Support and the Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.

Dundee Football Club chief executive, Dave McKinnon said: "Dundee Football Club is delighted to support the White Ribbon Campaign.

"There can never be any justification for violence whether, mental or physical, against women in our society. Men who perpetrate this abhorrent action are cowards. I would ask any Dundee supporter who witnesses or is aware of any such actions to report them."

More information is available on the White Ribbon Campaign website at www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk.