White Ribbon Day 2024 – a call to action for men and boys

Today is White Ribbon Day, an international campaign observed on 25 November each year, calling for the elimination of violence against women and girls.  

As the Chair of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and a former police officer, I've had the privilege of working across organisations that help to shape the lives of children and young adults, particularly those caught up in the youth justice system. My personal and professional journey has been driven by a commitment to safety and positive societal change.  

My time as a police officer meant I have witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of violence against women and girls. This issue is not just something we read about in headlines; it's a daily reality for countless women. It tears apart individuals, families and communities.  

White Ribbon Day offers a powerful opportunity for men and boys to be allies for women and girls. I myself take an active role in promoting gender equality and challenging behaviours and attitudes that perpetuate violence against women and girls, and today I am calling on the youth justice sector to do the same. It is so important to have positive male role models within these spaces and beyond. 

White Ribbon Day also marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs until Human Rights Day on 10 December.  

Recent national and international events have highlighted the urgent need to address gender-based violence, alongside persistent misogyny in society, which have created a climate where women and girls often feel unsafe.  

Girls in the youth justice system 

I want to draw particular attention to the unique challenges faced by girls in the youth justice system, whereby this sense of insecurity that is experienced is magnified.  

Girls represent a small proportion of the youth justice population, yet they are disproportionately more likely to have experienced trauma, abuse, and exploitation before entering the youth justice system. For example, adolescent girls are more at risk of intimate-partner violence than adult women. By the time they are 19 years old, almost 1 in 4 girls who have been in a relationship have already been physically, sexually, or psychologically abused by a partner. Their actions are often a response to trauma, yet this context can sometimes be overlooked in how we approach justice. 

The over-representation of girls with complex needs and histories of adverse childhood experiences, highlights the troubling intersection of victimisation and offending. To simply address these challenges and vulnerabilities faced by girls in the system is not enough. We must also address the systemic failures that make violence and abuse a reality for so many women and girls, thus exposing them to cycles of harm. 

What are we doing at the YJB? 

We are dedicated in our mission to create a fair youth justice system where children are treated as children. Supporting girls requires a commitment to understanding girls' specific needs and unique challenges.  

Through our oversight, we are seeing an increase in the number of girls entering the justice system and are working to support the sector in a number of ways: 

We have introduced a Girls Working Group which is a space for professionals working with girls in the youth justice sector. This is a forum to share best practice and ideas, to subsequently improve outcomes for girls in the system. You can watch our Girls Working Group recording on the Youth Justice Resource Hub 

One of our Board members, Susannah Hancock has been commissioned to lead an independent review into the placement of girls in custody. Children in custody are overwhelmingly boys, and as a result girls' needs are often unmet, resulting in them experiencing poorer outcomes. Girls make up just 2% of all children in custody, with latest figures showing just 10 girls in the youth estate across England and Wales. The YJB recognises the need for further research into effective interventions and appropriate settings for girls and welcomes the review. 

The YJB will continue to influence partners to deliver improvements and achieve outcomes for girls who come into contact with the youth justice system. We continue to identify emerging themes and trends relating to girls through our oversight and report this back to ministers. 

Men and boys as agents for change 

It's important to acknowledge that not all men are perpetrators, and we should instead be allies. Collectively, men have the power and responsibility to end violence against women and girls.  

As a police officer, I have seen first-hand how attitudes can shape behaviours and form actions. Boys who grow up learning to respect women and treat them as equals are less likely to engage in harmful behaviours towards them later in life.  

I call upon the men across the youth justice sector to change the cycle of violence against women and girls. Here are some ways that this can be achieved: 

Educate yourself and others

• Learn about the systemic issues girls in the youth justice system and beyond face. 
• Educate yourself and others around the realities of gender-based violence, including its forms, impact, and the ways you can help. 
• Understand the role of societal norms, toxic masculinity, and inequality in perpetuating violence. 
• Read and share resources that promote gender equality and challenge stereotypes.  

Call it out

• Speak out against all forms of violence and abuse, whether physical, emotional, or verbal. 
• Stand up for women if you witness harassment or discrimination, whether in public, at work, or online. 
• Call out inappropriate behaviour – such as jokes, sexist behaviour or microaggressions. 
• Call out peers who trivialise or normalise abusive behaviour, even if it's uncomfortable. 

Be a positive male role model

• Encourage boys to express emotions healthily and to value equality and respect in their relationships. 
• Teach boys to understand the importance of respect, kindness, and empathy. 
• Educate boys and young men about consent, boundaries, and mutual respect. 
• Support initiatives that teach relationship skills and emotional intelligence in schools and communities. 

Amplify women's voices

• Support and validate women's voices in conversations, meetings and decision-making spaces. 
• Create spaces where women and girls are heard, believed and empowered to lead conversations about their experiences. 
• Offer support without judgment or unsolicited advice; listen and ask how you can help. 
• Support initiatives that work to empower girls, both within and outside the justice system, such as advocating for policy changes.