A CAMPAIGN to highlight gender-based violence is coming to Helensburgh this winter.

The 16 Days of Activism campaign is being run by the Mothers’ Union in Helensburgh and Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid.

It aims to encourage people, and in particular men, to take a stand against gender based violence by wearing white ribbons, which are the emblem of the campaign.

This year’s campaign launched on Wednesday, November 25 and runs until Thursday, December 10.

The theme is Peace in the Home and Peace in the World. 

The organisations will have a stall at this year’s Helensburgh Winter Festival, where the group will be selling the emblematic white ribbons.

There will be an opportunity for people to donate goods like children’s weatherproof clothing, hats, gloves, shoes and boots in light of the refugee crisis.

One woman in four experiences domestic violence in the UK while one woman is killed every two and a half days as a result of domestic violence.

But domestic violence is just one form of gender based violence which among a long list includes rape or sexual assault, internet grooming and cultural violence such as female genital mutilation.

Fiona Johnstone runs the Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid office, which is based in Kirkmichael.

She said it was imperative people took a stand. She told the Advertiser: “Gender based violence is one of those things that is not immediately obvious but it happens throughout society.

“It’s insidious because it’s not always in our focus but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

“We need to get men on board and take a stand against their fellow men and say, hey, that’s not acceptable.”

The World Health Organisation has reported that acts of violence were the cause of death and disability for more women aged between 15 and 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war combined.

Ms Johnstone said Women’s Aid regularly sees an increase of domestic violence in particular against women in the winter months, which could be attributed to a variety of reasons including financial pressures around Christmas.

She added: “I think it’s crucial we take a stand. It’s society’s problem, we need to do as much as we can.

“We pray for right and just relations between women and men that together we may transform and overcome violence in all its forms and learn to celebrate our diversity and interdependence.

“We look to an age of peace when violence and war are banished and the work and wealth of our world is justly shared.”

Inspector Coleen Wylie fromHelensburgh police station, said: "During the festive period we do see an increase in domestic abuse.

"This can be due to family pressures or financial pressures. We treat all reports very seriously and investigate them thoroughly. Victims, or friends and neighbours who are concerned someone may be a victim, to contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency."