CQU staff and students are encouraged to support White Ribbon Day this Friday, November 25.

White Ribbon Day was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of 14 women in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women.

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) and the White Ribbon has become the symbol for the day.

From 2000, the Commonwealth Government Office for Women ran awareness activities on the International Day, and, in 2003, the Australian branch of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, began a partnership with men and men's organisations to make this a national campaign.

In 2004, 200,000 ribbons were worn by men and women across Australia - men at work; men and women in all Australian police forces; men in national and local sporting matches and organisations; men in the media; men and women in politics; men in the defence forces; men and women in communities in capital cities, rural towns, regional centres.

Rockhampton-based staff and students can purchase a white ribbon from the Post Office, Bookshop or Library counter and ITD Counter (Building 19) or contact Alison Jensen on 4930 9098.

Others can check details of the campaign and how to get involved via http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au/ .