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What every man can do to help prevent domestic violence
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Posted on Sep 28 2004
Domestic Violence is the No. 1 cause of injury to women. Although both men and women can be victims of domestic violence, the overwhelming majority of violence involves men abusing women. So, what is it that men in the CNMI can do to help prevent and deter violence? Well, men can start by coming together to support the Domestic Violence Awareness Month campaign.
October is the nationally proclaimed month for domestic violence awareness. Every year, the Family Violence Task Force, along with other agencies from both the public and private sectors, get together to form the DVAM Committee responsible for planning and preparing activities to help promote domestic violence awareness.
This year, one of the activities the FVTF has planned in collaboration with the Commonwealth Football League and the Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association is the White Ribbon Campaign. The campaign is about men who are against domestic violence. It is an all male walk. It will be the “kick off” event of the month, and it is slated for Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, 5pm, at the Kristo Rai in Garapan.
The White Ribbon Campaign is not only a walk, it is a way of standing up against domestic violence and making a commitment to end the abuse. It is the way to change. It is the way to change the old views of how men learn to express their masculinity by thinking they need to be dominant in order to have power and control over women. It is about men taking the responsibility to teach their sons the value of respecting women and each other. By joining the White Ribbon Campaign, you acknowledge the need for change. Remember, people change not just for good causes, but because they care for the people around them.
With this, I ask all male business leaders, male members of community associations, and every man to be a part of this upcoming event. This event is about men taking responsibility to stand up and make their hearts be heard. By joining the campaign, you will feel some change in your heart, mind, and most of all yourself. Once again, this event will be on Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, at Kristo Rai in Garapan. Assembly begins at 5pm.
Jess P. Stein
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