The Philosophy of the IPRP:
The purple ribbon, like
the Purple Heart, symbolizes
the injury and suffering
of victims of violence, in this case not victims of war or political
violence, but of violence in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and
society.
Interpersonal violence is first learned as violence in our homes. We
want to
promote healthy values: Love and respect for self, others, family, and
community.
(1) Violence Prevention Education
Home objective:
Teach families life skills, which are positive alternatives to violence,
including the reduction of racism, discrimination and intolerance.
School objective:
Implement violence prevention education programs such as conflict resolution.
Assist parents, teachers, and members of the community to teach children
nonviolent alternatives and coping skills for life.
Community Objective:
Get all neighborhood entities involved in violence preventions efforts.
We
must make it clear that we cannot and will not tolerate violence in
our
communities. Little fights lead to bigger ones in time.
(2) Reduce Violence in Entertainment
Home objective:
Decrease children’s exposure to graphic violence,
which proliferates
throughout entertainment media in cartoons, video games, toys, and popular
movies.
School objective:
Educate and help students and educators evaluate the impact of graphic
violence in the media on children.
Community Objective:
Support legislation which helps investigate, identify, and reduce children’s
exposure to violence in public and private media.
(3) Abuse Awareness
Home objective:
Realize that violence begins at home. Learn to identify signs of domestic
violence, and to identify and know how to use resources for family
counseling, and community mental health care to reduce abuse in our
own
homes. Talk to our children about safe touching and how to define and
stay
away from dangerous relatives and acquaintances. Yes, a relative can
be an
abuser. Education is the key, not distrust, silence, or denial. If children
know what is safe touch and what is not, they will help you to keep
them safe.
School objective:
Educate and help students come forward if they are facing domestic violence
or abuse in their homes. Current victims often become future criminals.
Family violence affects all students when it produces violent behavior
at
school.
Community Objective:
Increase awareness of the long-term community effects of domestic violence.
80% of all violent criminals report a history of childhood abuse. Abuse
is a
public crime, not a private act.
(4) Victims Rights
Home objective:
Educate family members about the effects of domestic violence, sexual
assault, and incest. If a family member discloses abuse, believe them.
Get
help, and keep children away from those accused of abuse. Remove the
social
stigma from the victims. Let them know it is OK to tell. Purple ribbons
show survivors that you care, understand, and are safe.
School objective:
Educate school children about safe touch and how to identify and avoid
abusive family members or acquaintances. Break the silence and break
the
cycle.
Community Objective:
Provide access to and support for abuse survivor resource centers (rape
crisis centers, incest support groups, mental health facilities, shelters).
Encourage volunteers in victim assistance programs. Support legislation
that
allows survivors appropriate access to criminal and civil justice systems
and
holds perpetrators accountable for their crimes. We cannot allow
perpetrators to walk free in the community without consequences, which
in
turn allows them to continue abusing or even to kill.
Violence/Abuse affects ALL of us!!
The International Purple Ribbon Project
is a people powered volunteer
campaign dedicated to abuse awareness and support for victims. For more
information call us at our international office in West Swanzey, NH,
USA @
1-603-357-1050.
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