The ‘Real Man’ Campaign for 2011
By Liz Lockhart
What a truly great campaign and what a really great idea. The ‘Real Man’ Campaign 2011 stands up against domestic violence and sexual violence.
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspurs striker), Ian Somerhalder (Vampire Diaries actor), Reggie Yates (DJ), Matt Lanter (90201 star),Westlife and Duncan Bannatyne are the latest stars to stand up against violence against women and support the ‘Real Man’ Campaign for 2011.
On the campaign website it states that ‘Violence against women and children is an issue for everyone. Globally, at least one in three women and girls is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime’
The campaign wants 10,000 men and women to pledge to stand up against domestic and sexual violence by 25th November 2011 – the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women.
This national campaign was launched by Women’s Aid and it is asking both men and women to help them to send out the message that ‘Real Men’ do not abuse and control women – physically, emotionally, sexually or financially. 
Nicola Harwin CBE, Chief Executive of Women's Aid told Mental Healthy 'We are delighted to launch the second year of our 'Real Man' campaign with Cosmopolitan and Debenhams.'
'We have had such a positive response to this important campaign, which sends out the clear message that a 'Real Man' would never be abusive or violent towards a partner. We thank the men and women involved for donating their timeto take part and ask everyone to join us by signing the 'Real Man' pledge at www.realmancampaign.com and by going into Debenhams and buying the 'Real Man' t-shirt, which is raising vital runds for Women's Aid'. Nicola told us.
The Women’s Aid website tells us more about this campaign and why it is so necessary:-
Why the ‘Real Man’ Campaign?
Violence against women and children is a global issue for everyone…
- Around the world, at least one in three women and girls is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime (UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2000)
- It is estimated that worldwide, one in five women will become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime (Mara Jos Alcal, United Nations Population Fund, 2005)
- Young women are particularly vulnerable to coerced sex and are increasingly being infected with HIV and AIDS. Over half of new HIV infections worldwide are occurring among young people between the ages of 15 and 24, and more than 60% of HIV-positive youth in this age bracket are female (UNIFEM, 2007)
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that the annual worldwide number of ‘honour killing’ victims may be as high as 5000 women (United Nations Population Fund, 2000)
- It is estimated that between 100 and 140 million girls and women worldwide have been subjected to one of the first three types of female genital mutilation (World Health Organisation, 2008)
- The cost of treating physical health of victims of domestic violence, (including hospital, GP, ambulance, prescriptions) in England and Wales alone is £1,220,247,000, i.e. 3% of total NHS budget. The cost of treating mental disorder due to domestic violence is £176,000,000. (Walby, 2004)
- At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic violence. (Department of Health, 2002)
- One incident is reported to the police every minute. (Stanko, 2000)
- 124,895 women and 54, 370 children used Women's Aid refuge and outreach services in 2009-2010 (Women's Aid Annual Survey)
The 'Real Man' Campaign asks both men and women to support Women's Aid's work and ACT to end domestic and sexual violence
Visit the ‘Real Man’ Campaign website and, like me, sign up today.
I was personally affected by domestic violence, you can read my blog about it here.
Our editor, Charlotte Fantelli, also wrote a truly great blog about overcoming domestic violence as a child - you can also read this here.
