A respect initiative over the coming weeks will see postcards displayed and circulated of Swindon men from all professions, ages and cultures posing in the eye-catching crew-neck tees. It is the first campaign of its kind to highlight violence against women by targeting men who may be aware of such incidents, and as such the postcards will include contact details on the back enabling them to seek help, including counselling.
The Swindon campaign is a local take on a variety of 'inspiring change' themed initiatives that are being organised across the world during the build-up to International Women’s Day on March 8.
Swindon's two MPs, Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, joined a group of leading council officials and members of the media who pulled their shirts on to launch the Swindon campaign at the town’s Civic Offices on Friday. Over the coming weeks it is hoped that many others around town, including Swindon Town players, will wear and have their photographs taken in the T-shirts.
North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: "It's a fantastic campaign. I am delighted to be able to play a small part in publicising such an important issue. Violence against women is abhorrent and I will certainly be working with my South Swindon colleague to raise the subject in Parliament".
South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: "I think it's really important that men speak out about violence against women. Unless we start addressing the causes then we will not be able to solve this problem. What I like about this is that it challenges men who are very often the perpetrators of such abuses.”
Rosa Matheson, lead member of the Swindon International Women's Day group, said national statistics indicated one in four women experience violence. "The message of our campaign is quite simple though extremely significant – just to say no to violence against women. We are building up a local resource that will include the comments of men who are role models and good guys with street cred on this important issue".
