A message from Razi Hassan, Co-Founder and Director of Partnerships & Communication at the Domestic Abuse Alliance, and White Ribbon Ambassador
White Ribbon Day is a moment that asks all of us to reflect on the reality that too many women and girls still live with and on the role men must play in creating real change. This year’s theme, #WeSpeakUp, feels especially important. Speaking up can protect, empower, and open the door to safety in a way that silence never will.
Through my work at the Domestic Abuse Alliance, I see every day how meaningful one voice can be. A friend who checks in, a colleague who intervenes, a professional who listens, these small moments of courage truly make a difference.
As a White Ribbon Ambassador, I hold strongly to the belief that this responsibility begins early. It starts with the values we pass on to our sons: empathy, respect, and the understanding that standing up for others, especially women, girls, and children, is part of what it means to be a good man.
That is why I wrote the letter below to my boys. They may be young now, but the lessons we teach them today will shape the men they become tomorrow, and the kind of world we all hope to build.
An open letter to my sons and all sons
My dear Maysam, Qassem, and Hassann,
Your mother and I have made it a habit to ask if you are happy and if there is anything more that we can do to ensure you are equipped for the world you step into each day. At 7, 4, and 6 months, it’s been a largely informal affair with lots of cuddling and giggling involved.
However, as days flow into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years, this innocent question will become pertinent, uncomfortable, and potentially divisive.
As your father, my most important job is to make sure you are safe and protected, and the people around you are also safe and protected. As you grow up, you will begin to look at the world through a different lens, but you must always remember that you have a responsibility to care for those less fortunate than you – you will find, I am sorry to say, many less fortunate than you.
Above all, there are two groups in society that are the most vulnerable. The first is women and girls – remember that the person most precious in your world, even if it pains me ever so slightly to say, is your mother – a woman who was once a girl.
The other group in society that you must always protect is children, a group that you are part of. Your grandmother was an incredible lady and a fierce protector of children. Her responsibility to children stemmed from her own, to many, many other children in her care and education. Remember that there is no such thing as ‘someone else’s child – you have a universal responsibility to answer any call for help from a child.
Speaking up is not easy; you have to be brave and willing to feel some pain, but if you are on the right side, you will be OK. Make sure that you are in control of your tongue – while sticks and stones will break bones, names can also cut the deepest and longest-lasting wounds.
Above all, remember that there is no place in the society and community that you live in for being horrible to one another.
In the end, just as your mother and I ask you if you are happy? Is there anything we can do? You should do the same, whether it is a cousin, friend, or even a stranger; if someone needs some help, help them.
Yours always,
Razi (dad)
White Ribbon Day — Standing Together Against Violence
White Ribbon Day asks every man and boy to take a stand against violence towards women and girls. This call to action sits at the heart of our work at the Domestic Abuse Alliance, where we partner with police forces, local services, and legal professionals to ensure survivors can access fast, safe and reliable protection.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to:
- creating safer communities
- challenging harmful behaviours
- supporting survivors with dignity and urgency
- encouraging men and boys to model respect, empathy, and accountability
How You Can Make a Difference
Change starts with everyday choices:
- Speak up when something isn’t right.
- Offer support when someone needs help.
- Choose kindness, respect, and equality, and inspire the people around you to do the same.
Please Join Us
Your voice matters. Speak up in your workplace, your community, and your family:
- Share the White Ribbon Day #WeSpeakUp message and support this year’s fundraiser #SayItSignIt..
- Wear a White Ribbon and talk about what it means to you with friends, colleagues, and loved ones, and encourage them to do the same: Shop — White Ribbon UK
- Invite others to get involved by becoming White Ribbon Ambassadors or Champions: Ambassadors and Champions — White Ribbon UK
