OUWBC, CUBC & OUBC for White Ribbon & Rape Crisis

In light of recent events in the UK, Oxford University Women’s and Men’s Boat Clubs in coordination with the Cambridge University Boat Club are raising funds for two charities that stand against sexual violence: Rape Crisis and the White Ribbon Campaign. Sexual violence is an issue that resonates strongly with us. Female athletes endure sexism, sexual harassment and know women who have been victims of sexual assault. We aren’t alone in this: 97% of women in the UK aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed (UN Women, 2021). 

About the charities:

○ Rape Crisis England & Wales supports the work of rape crisis centres across the UK, including Oxford (OSARCC) and Cambridge (CRCC), in addition to raising awareness and understanding of sexual violence and abuse. 87% of local authorities do not yet have rape crisis centres, something that Rape Crisis aims to change

○ The White Ribbon Campaign engages men and boys to make a stand against violence by fulfilling the white ribbon promise never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. “It’s men’s responsibility to stop gender violence, and since men listen a bit more carefully when the message is spoken by other men, we need to challenge each other to do better” — White Ribbon UK President, Chris Green OBE

The funds raised will be split evenly between these two charities. The boat clubs have chosen them to reflect the multifaceted nature of the issue of sexual violence; this is not a “women’s issue” but rather a societal problem that requires action from all of us.