The White Ribbon Organisations Programme is underpinned by the fundamental principles of equality, inclusion, engagement of men and boys in gender-based violence prevention, and a community-wide approach. The Programme aims to promote inclusivity and equity in Irish workplaces, and to work with organisations to develop a culture of safety and freedom from Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SDGBV). Workplaces and organisations have a legal and ethical responsibility in fostering equality and preventing violence, and they can benefit from this effort in the form of better productivity, staff wellbeing and engagement.

Gender inequality is one of the main drivers of DSGBV as well as a cause for missed economic opportunities, financial losses, and missed talent for organisations. There is supporting evidence that working towards ending inequalities between men and women is an effective tool in preventing violence and minimising its impact. While the main focus of the Programme is combating gender inequality, we are aware that this is not the only form of inequality individuals can experience. Intersectional inequality with other forms of discrimination such as, but not limited to, discrimination based on ethnicity, disability, or membership of the LGBTQIA+ or Traveller communities, are also addressed within our Programme.

The Programme’s focus is on engaging men and boys as active participants in the violence prevention efforts, in a way that is gentle, collaborative, strengths-based, and empowering so that they can be agents in achieving positive change. By engaging in violence prevention work with a transformative approach, men and boys also benefit on a personal and relational level.