To prevent men’s violence against women and girls, we must take a whole-society approach. We need policymakers to prioritise this, and you can help ensure that they do.

We now know who our next UK Government is and, as they prepare to set out their priorities for the UK, we need to ensure that preventing violence against women and girls is a top priority. White Ribbon UK has written to key decision makers across parties to encourage them to prioritise primary prevention, but we need your help to make this a reality.

We need you to write to your MP or MSto ensure that this work is a priority for them too. Below, you will find a template email for you to send to your local representative, along with information on finding out who your MP is and how to contact them.

For more ways you can ensure your MP or MS is prioritising primary prevention to end violence against women and girls across all their work, become a White Ribbon Ambassador or Champion today. Once you sign up, you’ll get access to our exclusive Resource Hub where you’ll find additional resources to help you campaign for greater action from your local leaders and within your community.

You can find out who your Member of Parliament is and their email address here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

You will be provided with the MP’s constituency email address. This where you should send your email.

Please use the template below to encourage your MP to commit to prioritising the primary prevention of violence against women and girls in Parliament.

Template letter to your local representative:

Dear [Your MP’s name]

RE: Show your commitment to preventing violence against women and girls

I am writing as one of your constituents to ask you to show your commitment to preventing violence against women and girls by prioritising the primary prevention of gender-based violence to stop it from happening in the first place.

White Ribbon UK, is the leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. They do this by addressing harmful masculine norms, working with individuals and organisations across England and Wales.

White Ribbon UK has outlined the following policy recommendations:

·       Include primary prevention of violence against women and girls within policy and strategies across government departments, alongside responses to gender-based violence.

·       Develop and implement primary prevention strategies alongside experts, across all sectors of society, online and offline, including education, health care, the criminal justice system, transport industry, the third sector and private businesses.

·       Fully and effectively implement Chapter 3 of the Istanbul Convention, which focuses on prevention measures, especially focusing on engaging men and boys including through education, workplaces and leisure and sport organisations.

·       Increase government investment and statutory sources of funding for specialist organisations working on primary prevention initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying factors contributing to violence against women and girls.

[Include some additional information about why preventing violence against women and girls is important to you living in this constituency.]

Please show your commitment to preventing violence against women and girls.

Please contact White Ribbon UK for more information, policy@whiteribbon.org.uk.

Yours sincerely,

[Include your name and postal address]