A PANEL event designed to bring men and boys into the conversation around domestic abuse will take place this White Ribbon Day.
From 5.30pm on Thursday 23 November in the Royal Yacht Hotel, FREEDA (formerly Jersey Women’s Refuge) is hosting its first event celebrating the day, which is dedicated to taking action to prevent violence against women and girls.
The panel discussion with special guests – entitled “Our future, free from abuse” – will shine a light on the importance of collective action and how communities must work together to change attitudes – as well as addressing root causes and considering mental health, learned behaviours and harmful societal attitudes.
Panellists include Kate Wright, chair of the VAWG taskforce; Suki Sandhu, a leading UK specialist in diversity; Matt Falla, managing director of Evelyn Partners, and founder of Man Club in Jersey; and David Challen.
Mr Challen is a domestic-abuse campaigner who famously and successfully campaigned to free his mother Sally Challen in a landmark appeal recognising the lifetime of coercive control she suffered in 2019.
Lisa Leventhal, chief executive of FREEDA, said: “In order for us to be successful in realising our aspiration, to free the Island from domestic abuse, our work must begin at the very beginning of cycles of abuse, in empowering men and boys to take responsibility for their actions and to promote respect and equality.
“This is the first year that we have celebrated White Ribbon Day, and this very much signifies our commitment to including the whole community in FREEDA’s work. Only by working together can we achieve change.”
The recent publication of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce report revealed the scale of such crimes in Jersey’s community.
Among its 77 recommendations, the taskforce called for “the engagement of men and boys” to become “a key feature of future efforts to tackle VAWG in Jersey and should be represented as such in all future strategies”.
Tickets for the panel event are available at islandtickethut.com/event/white-ribbon-day
There is also a lunch with David Challen open to those in the legal profession or others who may be interested. Reserve a spot at islandtickethut.com/event/in-conversation-with-david-challen-domestic-abusecampaigner/