PRESS CONFERENCE AND RECEPTION

FOR THE

CAUCASUS 16 DAYS

WHITE RIBBON AMBASSADORS 

at the

BERIKONI

Erekle Square #2, Tbilisi, Georgia

on Monday 3rd December 2001 at 16:00

All over the world famous men and women are joining with ordinary men and women to promote the development of a global society based on respect for the human rights of everyone, men, women and children.  Through the two well-established global campaigns, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence and the White Ribbon Campaign, Georgian society is now promoting its own cultural value of respect and non-violence against women.

Some of the most well-known men in Georgia are supporting the WomenAid initiated Caucasus 16 Days and White Ribbon Campaign and on 3^rd December WomenAid is introducing, as part of the Caucasus 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the first Georgian White Ribbon Ambassadors:

• Rezo Gabriadze

• Bakur Burduli

• Kote Kubaneishvili

• Kakhi Kavsadze

• Dato Evgenidze

• Duta Skhirtladze

• Gia  Bugadze

• National Rugby Team ‘Lelo’ represented by Bidzina Gegidze, Gia Kublashvili, Dimitri Oboladze.

The White Ribbon Campaign, a unique initiative of Canadian men, is the largest effort, in the world, of men working to end men's violence against women.

Michael Kaufmann, campaign co-founder states,

If it were between countries, we’d call it a war.  If it were a disease, we’d call it an epidemic. If it were an oil spill, we’d call it a disaster.  But it’s happening to women, and it’s just an everyday affair.  It is violence against women.” 

Established some ten years ago following the murder of 16 Canadian young girls who were studying to become engineers.  When the murderer was asked why he committed such violence he stated they were women and had no right to become engineers.

The men participating in the White Ribbon Campaign take as their common goal the following three personal pledges:

• Never to commit violence against women

• Never to condone violence against women, and

• Never to remain silent about violence against women.

The European Parliament has urged the male initiated White Ribbon Campaign be supported by men in all countries.

This brutality against young girls triggered the creation of two global campaigns – the White Ribbon and also the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.  Both campaigns take place in late November to mid December each year in over 100 countries.

WomenAid believes this important male initiative must be promoted and Pida Ripley, the founder/Director of WomenAid International, introduced and promoted both the White Ribbon Campaign and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence in Georgia during 2000.   Following the success of this initiative last year WomenAid has now established the Caucasus 16 Days, the first regional coordination of these global campaigns. The Caucasus 16 Days 2001 has over 500 participating organisations. 

For further information please contact:

WomenAid International-Caucasus:

17 Khvichia St. Tbilisi 380060 Georgia

Tel/Fax: (995 32) 37 92 70;

Mobiles: (995 99) 10 28 65; (995 77) 41 15 60; (995 77) 41 20 81

Email: waigeo@access.sanet.ge