Help break the circle of violence against women

Prospect is backing a call from UNI Global Union for men to be agents of change and leaders against gender violence.

UNI will launch a new video about the role of men in gender violence on Thursday, 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

It has called this year’s campaign: ‘Be man enough. Be a leader against gender violence’.

Violence against women is a persistent, world-wide problem, and occurs in every age and economic group. Domestic violence, in particular, continues to be frighteningly common, and accepted as ‘normal’ within many societies.

Denise McGuire, Prospect vice-president and president of UNI’s World Women’s Committee said: “Violence can be exercised in many ways and by many different people, but the underlying fact is that violence causes gender inequality and gender inequality causes violence.”

UNI’s equal opportunities department wants to help break the circle of violence. It has developed tools and information to help spread the message.

It is encouraging affiliates to:

• organise events, video screenings and workshops that include men in them
• promote its videos called ‘Break the circle, ‘Violence at work’ and the new video about the role of men in gender violence
• use the posters, info graphics, brochures, flyers and other material that it has produced.

You can find all the materials online.

Denise added: “Please spread the news about this campaign. Encourage men in your workplace to stand up and speak out against violence. Download flyers and take pictures of men in your union holding them up.”

Domestic violence affects people at work. Denise has helped produce negotiator’s guides and leaflets for members to help deal with the impact at work. 

Read about an Australian project which secured paid time off and other vital protections at work for victims of domestic violence (pages 8-9) and a Prospect rep’s involvement in a domestic violence policy for all public services in Wales (page 6) in Prospect’s Profile magazine.

UNI Global Union represents more than 20 million workers from over 900 trade unions in the fastest growing sectors in the world – skills and services.