Stop Violence Against Women Conference

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NUS Women's Campaign promotes this season's must-have fashion accessory...

... well, in fact every season's must-have accessory - a white ribbon, to be worn very visibly and with pride.

The White Ribbon is the symbol of opposition to violence against women that is particularly associated with November 25 (UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - White Ribbon Day), but is appropriate attire on every day of the year. Wearing a white ribbon means that you are saying you will not commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women.

For White Ribbon Day this year, NUS Women's Campaign was given funding by the Crime Reduction Unit of the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) to run a one-day Stop Violence Against Women conference.

The conference took place at the University of Portsmouth in partnership with GOSE and Portsmouth Domestic Violence Forum. This was part of NUS Women's Campaign's 'Our Bodies, Our Minds, our Selves' campaign. This national campaign aims to raise awareness about violence against women (in all its forms - physical, psychological, emotional, financial, sexual) and to assert a woman's basic right to own her own body.

The Conference was an opportunity to learn more about the issues relating to violence against women, to learn about the support services available and to plan campaigns. It was an open event for student officers, male and female, and for representatives from relevant external bodies such the local Rape Crisis Service, the local Domestic Violence Forum, Social Services and the Police. This mix of delegates provided a wonderful networking opportunity - student officers were able to talk with representatives from external organisations about their campaigning and case work.

The day started with a powerful drama by Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis Service entitled "Do you remember...?" which depicted the frequently devastating legacy of child sexual abuse, but also conveyed the creativity and strength of many survivors. There were workshops run by NUS on Reclaim the Night and Drink Spiking, by V-Day, Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis Service, Portsmouth Domestic Violence Forum, Women's Aid, and the Crown Prosecution Service. Our key-note speaker was Hugh Marriage OBE, the Home Office Director for the South East Region. He gave a moving speech about society's attitude to domestic violence, urging us to speak out and cry out against violence against women.

102 white balloons were released at lunchtime to represent the number of women who are killed by their partner or former partner in a year in England and Wales - each had a ticket attached to it with the message:

STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Let's start talking...
www.nusonline.co.uk/women
www.go-se.gov.uk

The overall message of the day was: Wear your white ribbon with pride and let's start talking...

Final Programme