Greater Manchester recognises White Ribbon Day 2022

TODAY, on White Ribbon Day 2022, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester have joined public services across the city-region to reiterate their commitment to tackling gender-based violence in all its forms.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) are once again White Ribbon accredited and, for the first time, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has been officially accredited by the charity.

Campaigns and activities are taking place in districts across the city-region for White Ribbon Day, which also marks the start of 16 days of international activism against gender-based violence and supports Greater Manchester’s 10-year Gender-Based Violence Strategy.

It comes as new survey results revel that only 36% of men have challenged a friend who made sexual jokes about women to other men and just 38% have asked a woman if she was okay after they thought a man’s behaviour was making her uncomfortable. The results demonstrate the importance of the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s #IsThisOK? campaign, which challenges the everyday behaviours of men and boys towards women and girls in public spaces.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: 

“For too long, women and girls have had to make changes in their daily lives in response to the behaviour of, primarily, men and boys. Whilst we know this is not the behaviour of every man and boy, we do know that every woman and girl will recognise and have experienced the behaviours shown in our campaign films at some point. This is the story of gender-based violence in Greater Manchester.

“But we can, and must, change this story. We call on men and boys to follow our #IsThisOK? campaign and, more importantly, keep this conversation going.

“The campaign is just one part of our ongoing work to tackle gender-based violence and our whole-system approach. This means that Greater Manchester partners and authorities are coming together to tackle the issue as a collective and that’s why it’s important to see our organisations recognise White Ribbon Day, with GMCA, GMFRS and TfGM all White Ribbon accredited, the latter for the first time this year.”

As part of the #IsThisOK? campaign, a survey was conducted with 400 men aged 18 to 35 in Greater Manchester, which revealed:

• 72% agreed that it is unacceptable to catcall (whistle, yell or beep) at a woman.
• 85% agreed it is unacceptable for men to make repeated sexual advances towards women when they’re not interested.
• 58% agreed it is ‘very unacceptable’ or ‘unacceptable’ to tell sexual jokes about women to other men. 
• Yet only 36% of men have challenged a friend who made sexual jokes about women to other men.
• And just 38% have asked a woman if she was OK, if they thought a man’s behaviour was making her uncomfortable.
• Only 29% of men said that they plan to find out more about how they can help tackle gender-based violence in Greater Manchester

The survey follows the launch of two new campaign videos that highlight the prevalence of gender-based violence and show why men and boys must challenge the behaviour of themselves and others to make a difference.

The results are informing the development of the next phase of the campaign to be launched later this year.

Bev Hughes, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire and Co-Chair of Greater Manchester’s Gender-Based Violence Board said:

“We are committed to addressing the causes of gender-based violence before they become entrenched and can inflict enduring harm.

“Through implementing our radical 10-year strategy, I believe that Greater Manchester can lead the way globally and demonstrate how a city-region coming together as one can deliver real social change.

“Our #IsThisOK? campaign highlights that there are real problems affecting women and girls in our city-region that need challenging, and that men and boys need to get on board and change their behaviour. Greater Manchester can, and will, mobilise to tackle gender-based violence.”

Jane Gregory, Founder of Salford Survivor Project and Co-Chair of Greater Manchester’s Gender-Based Violence Board added:

“We hope that the #IsThisOK? campaign creates an open and positive discussion amongst men and boys about how this behaviour makes women and girls less safe and uncomfortable and lead to more serious forms of abuse, and how we can come together to stop it happening. Everyone needs to be part of the changing the story.”

Follow the public campaign via @IsThisOKGM on social media or using the hastag #IsThisOK? and watch the videos on our website: #IsThisOK? - Greater Manchester's campaign to tackle gender-based violence - GMCA)

Find out more about the Gender-Based Violence Strategy on the GMCA website: Gender-Based Violence Strategy