Stop violence, now

Published on Sunday 19 April 2009 22:01

Today, we are all making a personal pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. Violence has a devastating impact on the lives of women here in Scotland (where a domestic violence incident is recorded every 11 seconds) and all around the world. We are Scottish men who want to play a part in ending this human rights scandal and we want you to join us.

We urge all your readers (especially the men) to take two minutes to sign their name alongside ours at www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk a new website launched today by White Ribbon Scotland. White Ribbon Scotland is supported by a coalition of organisations and individuals and aims to involve men in Scotland in challenging violence against women. It is part of a global campaign in over 55 countries around the world.

Most men in Scotland are not violent towards women, but it is all too easy for men to ignore the problem, or see it as something that has nothing to do with us.

We believe that men have an important role to play in ending violence against women. Please visit the White Ribbon Scotland website to find out more and to pledge your support.

CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE, novelist; IAIN GRAY, Leader of the Labour Party in the Scottish Parliament; ALEX SALMOND, First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party; PATRICK HARVIE, Co-Leader of the Scottish Green Party; CARDINAL KEITH PATRICK O'BRIEN, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh; RIGHT REVEREND DAVID LUNAN, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; OSAMA SAEED, Scottish Islamic Foundation; TAVISH SCOTT, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats; GRAHAME SMITH, General secretary of the STUC; WALTER SMITH, Rangers Manager; GORDON STRACHAN, Celtic Manager; MARK WARD, National Coordinator, Men's Health Forum Scotland; JOHN WATSON, Programme director Scotland, Amnesty International UK

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