The Pledge
to help end violence against women, sexual assault and domestic violence!

With the permission from the Canadian founders and dialogue with current White Ribbon Day organizers in Massachusetts, we have adapted the international white ribbon pledge to reflect the values, the philosophy of the Coalition and the variety of perspectives and approaches to this work. We specifically opted to change the international pledge in order to recognize that lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals are both victims and perpetrators of sexual assault and domestic violence. This pledge aims to reflect the experiences of everyone, regardless of their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

The Massachusetts White Ribbon Day pledge reads:
"From this day forward, I promise never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women, sexual assault and domestic violence."

The pledge consists of three promises:

NEVER TO COMMIT: Violent and abusive behaviors are learned – and they can be unlearned. This campaign is about individuals making a pledge not to be violent or abusive. It’s also a commitment to promote healthy relationships and healthy communities where we do not have to fear violence or worry about our loved ones.

NEVER TO CONDONE: Violence is a choice and a strategy for gaining power and control. One tactic used by batterers and sex offenders is to blame the victim or otherwise dismiss their own responsibility. It’s critical that we promote perpetrator accountability, challenge the myths and misconceptions about violence against women, sexual assault and domestic violence and never condone abuse.

NEVER TO REMAIN SILENT: Silence can be interpreted as approval. Silence makes a victim feel alone. The anti-violence movement has worked to break the silence about what were once considered private, family matters. It’s critical that men speak out against violence against women, sexual assault and domestic violence. It’s also critical that we honor the voices of all survivors.

You may find variations of this pledge language used in different communities here in Massachusetts and around the world. Some campaigns target adult men or focus on boys, and others include girls. As long as the central tenet remains, local programs in Massachusetts are invited to craft the pledge language to reflect their own purposes and do not need to adopt the JDI pledge.

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