White Ribbon Day 2026: "It Takes All of Us" Guide for Schools

White Ribbon Day 2026 at a glance

• Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026
• Theme: It Takes All of Us
• Also known as: the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
• 16 Days of Activism: 25 November to 10 December 2026 (Human Rights Day)
• In the UK: led by the charity White Ribbon UK
• The promise: never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls
• Free lesson: KS3 healthy relationships and where to get help lesson pack

What is White Ribbon Day?

White Ribbon Day takes place every year on 25 November. The United Nations designated the date in 1999 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in memory of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists murdered in the Dominican Republic in 1960. The White Ribbon campaign itself began in Canada in 1991, started by men responding to the 1989 murder of 14 women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. Wearing a white ribbon is a visible sign that you reject violence against women and girls. White Ribbon Day also opens the 16 Days of Activism, which run until Human Rights Day on 10 December.

The 2026 theme: It Takes All of Us

White Ribbon UK's theme for 2026 is It Takes All of Us. It reflects the charity's long-standing message that ending violence against women and girls is everyone's responsibility, and that men and boys in particular have a vital role as allies: challenging sexist jokes and attitudes, calling out harassment, and supporting the women and girls around them. In 2025 the campaign focused on how letting sexism slide puts women and girls at risk. For schools, the theme is a natural way to talk about respect, healthy relationships and the power of speaking up, without placing blame on any group of pupils.

What is the White Ribbon Promise?

The White Ribbon Promise is a commitment to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls. Individuals and organisations, including schools, can make the promise through White Ribbon UK, and schools can also work towards White Ribbon accreditation. Many schools invite male staff and older pupils to make the promise publicly in assembly on White Ribbon Day.

Why White Ribbon Day matters

The latest Office for National Statistics figures, for the year ending March 2025, estimate that 3.8 million people aged 16 and over in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the last year. That is 7.8% of adults: 2.2 million women (9.1%) and 1.5 million men (6.5%). Police recorded 816,493 domestic abuse-related crimes in the same year. Domestic abuse affects people of every gender, but women are more likely to experience it, and more likely to experience repeated and severe abuse.

White Ribbon UK, citing the National Audit Office, notes that around 1 in 4 women will experience sexual assault or attempted sexual assault in their lifetime. It also highlights a 2025 BBC report that 39% of secondary school teachers were aware of at least one incident of misogynistic behaviour from a pupil in the past week.

Children are affected too. Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, a child who sees, hears or experiences the effects of domestic abuse is recognised as a victim in their own right. In almost every class there is likely to be a child for whom this topic is not abstract. See our guide to domestic abuse and children.

Why schools should mark White Ribbon Day

• Prevention starts young: attitudes to relationships, consent and respect form in the teenage years.
• Misogyny is in the classroom: online influencers and harmful content are shaping some young people's views of women and girls. See our guides on online influencers and teenagers and misogyny and incel culture in schools.
• Teenage relationship abuse is real: controlling, coercive and abusive behaviour happens in young people's own relationships, not just between adults.
• It tells children where to turn: for a child living with domestic abuse, a lesson that names it and shows them where help is can be the first time they realise it is not normal and not their fault.

How schools can mark White Ribbon Day 2026

• Wear white ribbons, or make them in form time, on Wednesday 25 November.
• Hold an assembly on the It Takes All of Us theme, with male staff and older pupils making the White Ribbon Promise.
• Teach our free KS3 lesson on healthy relationships, respect and where to get help.
• Run a pupil-led "It Takes All of Us" display showing small actions that make a difference: calling out a sexist joke, checking in on a friend, telling a trusted adult.
• Review how pupils report sexual harassment and sexist behaviour in school, and whether they trust that route.
• Put help information where pupils can see it privately, such as the inside of toilet doors, as well as on noticeboards.
• Use the 16 Days of Activism (25 November to 10 December) for staff training on domestic abuse. See our guide to recognising and responding to domestic abuse for school staff.

Marking the day safely: pupils who live with domestic abuse

Some pupils in every school are living with domestic abuse right now, and many schools will not know who they are. Plan White Ribbon activities with that in mind.

• Tell your DSL in advance and check whether any pupils are known to be affected, including through Operation Encompass notifications from the police.
• Give known pupils a quiet heads-up and a choice about how they take part.
• Avoid graphic stories, images or videos. Keep to fictional, distanced scenarios.
• Make it clear that abuse is never the fault of the person experiencing it, and never a child's fault.
• Have a named adult available during and after any lesson or assembly.
• Follow your normal procedure if a pupil discloses. See how to respond when a child discloses abuse.

Where children and young people can get help

• A trusted adult at school, such as a teacher, form tutor or the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Childline: 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk (free, confidential, 24 hours a day; calls do not show on phone bills).
• The Hideout: thehideout.org.uk, Women's Aid's website for children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
• In an emergency, call 999. If it is not safe to speak, stay on the line and listen; on a mobile you can press 55 when prompted so the call is put through to the police (the Silent Solution).

For adults (including young people aged 16 and over):

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline (England): 0808 2000 247, 24 hours
• Live Fear Free (Wales): 0808 80 10 800
• Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland): 0808 802 1414
• Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline (Scotland): 0800 027 1234
• Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
• NSPCC Helpline, for adults worried about a child: 0808 800 5000 (10am to 4pm Monday to Friday; email help@nspcc.org.uk (11am to 4pm, seven days a week)). If a child is in immediate danger, call 999

Frequently asked questions

When is White Ribbon Day 2026?

White Ribbon Day 2026 is on Wednesday 25 November 2026. It is also the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

What is the theme for White Ribbon Day 2026?

White Ribbon UK's theme for 2026 is It Takes All of Us, a reminder that ending violence against women and girls is everyone's responsibility.

What is the White Ribbon Promise?

The White Ribbon Promise is a commitment to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

Why is the ribbon white?

The white ribbon is a visible symbol that the wearer rejects violence against women and girls. The campaign began in Canada in 1991.

What are the 16 Days of Activism?

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence run from 25 November, White Ribbon Day, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.

Is there a free White Ribbon Day lesson plan for schools?

Yes. The Safeguard Hub's free KS3 lesson pack covers healthy relationships, recognising abuse and where to get help, with slides, a worksheet, a quiz, teacher notes and a discreet help card. It deliberately has no letter home, to keep pupils safe.

Sources: White Ribbon UK, White Ribbon Day 2026 | Office for National Statistics (November 2025), Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2025 | Domestic Abuse Act 2021 | United Nations, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | Department for Education (2026), Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026.