Connacht Rugby supporting the White Ribbon Campaign to end violence against women

Memebrs of the Connacht Rugby managment and players were at Galways Spanish Arch to launch the 2010 White Ribbon Campaign.

Team Manager Tim Allnutt said: "We are delighted to be able to lend our support to this very worthy cause this year, the White Ribbon Campaign sends out an important message that violence against women is wrong and we at Connacht Rugby would like to help spread that message."

COPE Galway Waterside House and Galway Rape Crisis Centre launched this years 16 Days Campaign opposing Violence against Women at the Galway City Museum. This year’s campaign is “The White Ribbon Campaign” (WRC), which is a national campaign supported by SAFE Ireland (the representative body for Women’s Refuges and Support Services), by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland and by the Men’s Development Network. The campaign runs from November 25th to December 10th.

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest effort in the world of men and women working together to end violence against women. The WRC was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of 14 women in Montreal.   They decided that wearing a white ribbon would be a symbol of men's opposition to men's violence against women. After only six weeks preparation, as many as 100,000 men across Canada wore a white ribbon. There are now White Ribbon Campaigns operating in many countries around the world including Ireland.

During the 16 days of the campaign white ribbons will be available from both COPE Galway Waterside House and Galway Rape Crisis Centre. In addition to supporting the campaign by purchasing and wearing a white ribbon people are also asked to go to www.whiteribbon.ie to register their support.

If you would like to help out with the campaign through displaying posters or selling white ribbons please contact either COPE Galway on 091 778750 or Galway Rape Crisis Centre on 091 583149.

The two Galway organizations provide services to women experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault and rape.  In 2009, COPE Galway Waterside House provided accommodation and outreach to over 500 women and children experiencing domestic violence. 518 people contacted Galway Rape Crisis Centre last year and they dealt with over 2,000 calls to their helpline.

If you, or someone you know, is being affected by violence within an intimate relationship and would like information and support, phone COPE Galway Waterside House at 091-565985 or if you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence phone  Galway Rape Crisis Centre on 1800-355 355.