Campaign encourages education, communication

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
The Family Advocacy Program hosted members of the on- and off-base community to discuss ending domestic violence and sexual assault during a White Ribbon Day event at the Hanscom Conference Center April 8.

The White Ribbon Campaign is an international campaign designed to encourage men to become advocates and speak out against violence.

"Violence against women continues to be a problem in our society," said Maj. Thomas M. Smith, 66th Medical Squadron clinical social worker and moderator for the event. "One out of every six women in America has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime."

Smith also said that according to Department of Justice, three women are killed every day by domestic violence. And to illustrate this problem further to those in attendance, many of whom were in uniform, he related it to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The United States has experienced more than 6,800 fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan," Smith said. "During that same period, 11,766 women were killed in the United States as a result of domestic violence."

The purpose of the forum was to begin a conversation of ending domestic violence against women and reducing that number.

"Even if it's simply telling people where you were today, it's opening the door to communication," Smith said. "It's critical that we engage our young Airmen, Soldiers, Coast Guardsmen, Sailors and Marines in understanding that the most junior person has a role in making a difference."

Among the other guest speakers were Yevin Roh, who read a poem he wrote on his own experiences with domestic violence, as well as Cynthia Goncalves, a Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships peer leader and high school senior who spoke about violence among teens.

Additionally, Mass. Army National Guard Chaplain (Col.) Paul Minor also spoke about influence through communication.

"We influence each other by our words," said Minor, saying that beginning a conversation on domestic violence is a way to prevent it. "There is strength in numbers."

Northeastern University Athletic Director Peter Roby was the day's final speaker. He spoke about his role and feeling of responsibility to lead in his community.

Roby highlighted that as a society, we have to work to overcome what we are bombarded with since we were born, not all of which is intentional he added.

"That's why these things that we are doing in conjunction with White Ribbon Day campaign are so important," he said. "We have to appreciate what words can do ... what expectations can do to a person and their self-esteem, to their self-worth. It's not always intentional, but we have to educate ourselves about how those things can be so impactful, how we raise our children, what kind of example we set for them."

66th Air Base Group Commander Col. Michael Vogel closed the event by thanking those who attended, as well as those who spoke.

"I appreciate [guest speakers] you sharing your message today; If we don't talk about it and turn a blind eye, it will never go away," he said.

The White Ribbon campaign was founded in 1991 by a group of Canadian men who were driven to action after a violent attack in 1989 against women at a school in Montreal. The men established the campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence and specifically men's role in preventing it.

Wearing a white ribbon represents a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.

If you or somebody you know is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please contact Family Advocacy at 781-225-6385 for assistance.