A MOVEMENT to highlight the violence suffered by women across the world launched this week.

The annual White Ribbon 16 Days of Action campaign got under way on Monday at The Portal in Irvine.

The worldwide initiative promotes an end to violence against women and directly addresses men.

By helping men understand the scale of the problem, they hope to help make them part of the solution.

North Ayrshire Council’s Violence Against Women team were joined by White Ribbon Scotland, local football teams and a host of partners at the Portal to launch a series of events over the next 16 days.

The campaign includes the annual Reclaim the Night walk, a march demanding that women should be able to move throughout public spaces at night without fear of rape or assault.

The walk will be held on Tuesday, December 3, at 5pm, starting off from the Trinity Church steps at Bridgegate, Irvine, with the finale taking place at the Harbour Arts Centre (HAC).

Rose Riley, the trailblazing female football player who won a host of trophies and honours in both Scotland and Italy, will be taking part in the walk before giving a brief speech at the HAC.

There will be a calendar of events and initiatives which will be delivered across North Ayrshire on each day of the campaign, giving local people the opportunity to get involved and sign “The Pledge” – a promise to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

North Ayrshire Council Provost Ian Clarkson said: “We are again proud to be supporting this worthwhile campaign.

“Women and girls face many forms of abuse and we all have a responsibility to end this type of behaviour.

“The main aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the suffering faced by many women and how we all have a part to play in preventing it from happening again.

“It is particularly important for me to stand alongside girls and women to send out the strong message that violence against women will not be tolerated.”

You can find out more about the events taking place during the White Ribbon 16 Days of Action by visiting northayrshire.community/events.