Canada decided that they had a responsibility to urge other men to speak out against violence against women and decided that wearing a white ribbon would be a symbol of men's opposition to men's violence against women. With only six weeks preparation, as many as one hundred thousand men across Canada wore a white ribbon that first year. At present, there lacks sufficient data on the number of men that wear them now, but estimates are near half a million. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage men and boys to wear a white ribbon for one or two weeks, starting on November 25, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women. (In Canada we wear ribbons until December 6, Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.) Wearing the white ribbon is the equivalent to making a personal pledge never to commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women. The WRC is also an educational organization, which encourages reflection and discussion leading to personal and collective action among men. Throughout the year, they encourage men to do educational work in schools, workplaces and communities, also to support local women's groups, and to raise money for the international educational efforts of the WRC. They also distribute Education and Action kits to schools to help in spreading the message against violence against women and maintain a website. What is interesting about this group, and define it as primarily a Feminist Men's group is that though they encourages men to wear a white ribbon and to participate in commemorative events such as the Montreal massacre, they themselves do not organize events on December 6, nor do they make public statements unless requested by women's groups. Why? Because they think it should be a day for men to step back and listen to the voices of women. The development of the Men's Movement, I feel has done nothing but aid the Women's Movement....
