Click here for White Ribbon Day 2010.

February 14th 2009

Week of Proclamations February 9th-15th 2009

Jane Doe Inc.’s 2nd annual statewide White Ribbon Day Campaign in Massachusetts continues to build momentum. From a proclamation event with Governor Patrick to police departments and schools all across the Commonwealth, men and boys are taking part in this international effort to help end men’s violence against women.

We chose once again to coincide Massachusetts White Ribbon Day 2009 with Valentine's Day to highlight the need to combine respect and safety with romance and love. We must talk about what we must end (sexual assault and domestic violence) and promote what we must have (respect and safety)! We will celebrate positive masculinity; invite men and boys to be leaders to help end violence against women; and encourage men and boys to contribute to a solution in any number of ways.

We’re taking our cue from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that speaks to how violence against women is a human rights violation and how these abuses around the world are obstacles to efforts for peace and gender equality in all societies.

Throughout the year, JDI invites you to sign on as a White Ribbon Ambassador and participate in local activities across Massachusetts. You can show your support by encouraging others in your organizations, families, and workplaces to wear a white ribbon, place a poster up at their workplaces, spread the word about the campaign and its aims, organize local events to speak out against violence towards women, and challenge attitudes and behaviors which condone or tolerate violence.

So get ready.  On this webpage, you can find out about the history of the White Ribbon Campaign, what this pledge means around the world and how you can get involved, including tool kits for planning local events.

We also urge you to learn more about sexual assault and domestic violence. You can find information, facts and more on the Jane Doe Inc. website.