Brecon Cathedral special service to mark International White Ribbon Day

Anti-violence campaigner Joyce Watson AM hosted a candlelit service at Brecon Cathedral yesterday (17 November) to mark International White Ribbon Day on 25 November.
The service, organised by Margaret Richards of Powys Domestic Abuse Forum, was well attended, with performances by Brecon and District Male Choir and the Junior Powys Local Safeguarding Children Board (Eat Carrots Be Safe From Elephants) Group. Brecon Mayor Matthew Dorrance joined Mrs Watson and thanked the Cathedral for hosting the event. It is the second year that the Dean and Chapter of Brecon have supported the cause.
The event was part of two weeks of activity organised jointly by Mrs Watson and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes – Wales for the Not in My Name campaign.
Not in My Name recruits male ambassadors to urge people to support a simple pledge: to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
Mid and West AM, Mrs Watson said:
“Following last year’s successful inaugural service, I am very grateful to Brecon Cathedral for again agreeing to mark International White Ribbon Day.
“By signing the Not in My Name pledge and wearing a white ribbon, people send out a powerful message – that domestic abuse is never acceptable, should never be ignored and must never be excused.”
This year’s campaign is focused on younger women and girls, and is working with schools and colleges to help create a culture where violent behaviour towards women and girls is unacceptable.
Other events include a student-led vigil at Aberystwyth University (15 November), a Light a Candle service at St Davids Cathedral (25 November) and a Candlelight Walk in Carmarthen town centre (28 November).
People can get involved by signing White Ribbon posters, organising or attending events, and by sending messages of support.
Further details are available from Joyce Watson on www.joycewatson.org.uk / 029 2089 8972, or the NFWI-Wales http://www.thewi.org.uk/wi-in-wales
Further Information
Event: Light a Candle service 3.30pm, Sunday 17th November, Brecon Cathedral
Ways in which people can support the campaign:
• Find out more at http://www.thewi.org.uk/wi-in-walesorwww.joycewatson.org.ukfor ideas to get involved
• Request a poster to sign pledges of support and send it back
• Send in messages of support, which may appear in the web campaign
• Display the poster to promote White Ribbon Day
• Organise an event with white ribbons (seewww.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/).
• Organise a candle-lit vigil to raise awareness of the issues
White Ribbon Day takes place on 25 November, International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women. By wearing a white ribbon, men pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
The WI is the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK with more than 210,000 members in around 6,660 WIs. In Wales there are 16,000 members belonging to about 500 WIs. It plays a unique role in enabling women to develop new skills, giving them opportunities to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities, and provides wide-ranging activities for members to get involved in. For further information please visit www.theWI.org.uk
Details of last year’s campaign – https://www.joycewatson.org.uk/archives/2346
http://www.thewi.org.uk/wi-in-wales/news-and-events/not-in-my-name-campaign-to-recruit-male-ambassaadors-to-speak-out-against-domestic-abuse