Anti-bullying week
National Anti-Bullying Week is always in November and usually coincides with
the United Nations International Day to End Violence Against Women - also
known as White Ribbon Day on the
25th November. Anti-Bullying Week 2006 is from Monday 20th to Friday 24th of
November. All schools should receive free information packs from the
Anti-Bullying Alliance."
You can also download these from the
Anti-Bullying Alliance web site. There you will find bullying fact sheets,
sample school surveys, 50 ideas for events in Anti-Bullying Week including
special assemblies and details new merchandise available as well as
downloadable copies of this year's winning posters. The theme for this year's
Anti-Bullying Week is 'The Bystander'.
This is the ideal opportunity for schools to link activities on bullying and
sexual harassment, gender equality, human rights and violence against women.
Such activities are ideal for PSHE and Citizenship.
Brief History of White Ribbon Day:
The 25th November was recognised by the United Nations in 1999, but it was in
1960 after the political killing of 3 sisters in the Dominican Republic for
their campaigns against fascism that the date was first noted as a day to
remember women's activism and struggles around the world. In 1981 women in
Latin America called for this date to be a day of protest against violence
against women in memory of the 3 'Mirabel' sisters. Ten years later in 1991,
following the brutal killing of female engineering students at the University
of Montreal by a man who hated women and felt they had no place in
traditionally male-dominated spheres, a group of Canadian men started the
White Ribbon Campaign. They chose the 25th November as the day to wear a white
ribbon and call for an end to male violence against women. The event was first
run in the UK by Womankind Worldwide and there is now a White Ribbon Campaign
UK based in Yorkshire.
The White Ribbon is a symbol of hope for a world where women and girls can
live free from the fear of violence. Wearing the ribbon is about challenging
the acceptability of violence - by getting men and boys involved, helping
women to break the silence and encouraging everyone to come together to build
a better world for all.
Schools Campaigns
There is much that schools can do to mark this event. Order your free
Womankind CD Rom of lesson plans from the
Social Inclusion Unit. Run lessons in PSHE or do a special assembly,
organise a group of students to run a stall selling white ribbons to fund
raise for Womankind, White Ribbon Campaign UK, or Islington Women's Aid for
example . Free pupil workshops and campaigning materials for pupils are
available from Womankind Worldwide's Education Department. These workshops
cover sexual bullying in schools, linking both White Ribbon Day and
Anti-Bullying Week. Please contact the Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator in the
Social Inclusion Unit to book provision from Womankind Worldwide as early
as possible.
You can order white ribbons and posters as well as other resources free of
charge from
Womankind Worldwide at the following website:
There are also educational resources on the
men's White Ribbon Campaign UK
Get your school involved in the campaign, change attitudes, prevent
violence against women.
For support and information on Anti-Bullying work in your school contact
CEA@Islington Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator - Finn Mackay on 0207 527 5778 or
e.mail
finn.mackay.cea@islington.gov.uk