White Ribbon Australia celebrates Men’s Health Week

Men’s Health Week (June 10-16) is an important opportunity to celebrate the good things men and boys do to better society. It also recognises the amazing work of those who reach out to men to improve their overall wellbeing.

The Men’s Health Week website lists positive role modelling and mutual respect as two major factors that contribute to men’s improved overall health and wellbeing. And White Ribbon Australia couldn’t agree more!

This is because the White Ribbon Campaign is about recognising the positive role that men play in preventing violence against women. It fosters and encourages male leadership in the prevention of violence against women, by engaging men and boys to lead positive social change.

Based on the understanding that most men are not violent, the Campaign is a means for men to speak out against violence against women. It is also a means for good men to safely and effectively challenge the attitudes and behaviours of a minority of men who use or condone violence against women.

Australia's unique Ambassadors' Program supports thousands of men to be the faces and leaders of the campaign, by living the White Ribbon Oath: never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.

This Men’s Health Week, we pay tribute to our Ambassadors who are amazing role models and do a great job of reaching out to men with the aim of improving their overall wellbeing. We also take this opportunity to encourage more men to get involved in Australia’s only national, male-led campaign to end men’s violence against women.

White Ribbon Australia believes in the capacity of the individual to change and to encourage change in others. Together we can make a difference to the lives of men and women around Australia.

The 2013 theme of Men’s Health Week is ‘what will you do?’ and White Ribbon Australia has a few suggestions as to ‘what you can do’ to help stop violence against women: