Editorial: In my father's footsteps

OPINION: My father taught me many things. But there is one thing he said to me when I was a young boy that has stayed with me over the years. What he told me was that any man who raised his hand against a woman was not worthy of calling himself a man.

I never saw my father raise his hand to my mother or, as far as I am aware, any other woman. I, too, have never raised my hand to strike a woman and I never will.

Most Kiwi blokes manage to go through life without hitting a woman. Sadly though, there are far too many who do hit women.

Statistics show that an average of 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex-partners. Every year more than 3500 convictions are recorded against men for assaults on women and one in five women will experience sexual assault or sexual interference at some point in their lives.

Those statistics do not make particularly flattering reading and it's time we stood together to help fight this shameful behaviour in our country. We can do this by showing support for White Ribbon Day.

Violence against women is not something new and is certainly not confined to our country. It has been happening for centuries all over the world but it is only now that attitudes are changing and awareness is being created around the issue.

It is only through the changing of attitudes that this problem can be addressed and the campaign encourages men to challenge each other on attitudes and behaviour that are abusive.

Today is White Ribbon Day, a day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women.

According to the White Ribbon Day website, the event was started by a men's movement in Canada in 1991 and has been officially adopted by the United Nations as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Several well known New Zealanders have shown their support for White Ribbon Day.

Rugby league player Ruben Wiki is a passionate supporter of efforts to end family violence and joined the White Ribbon campaign to become its first national ambassador.

Ruben has used his public profile to speak out against family violence and encourage men to help put a stop to violence against women. He says he grew up in a house where his mother was beaten by her partner (not his father) and wants to help to make sure the same doesn't happen to other mothers and children.

Ending violence against women will not happen overnight. But White Ribbon Day is an opportunity to put the issue in the spotlight. And if it results in one man changing his attitude and behaviour towards women then it's a good result.

My father won't be with me forever but his words will.

Lance Dodd, Editor

- The Marlborough Express