Sheriff Koutoujian Joins ‘White Ribbon’ Day Campaign to End Domestic Violence

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has been named an Honorary Committeeman for Jane Doe Inc.’s 8th Annual Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign, an initiative to engage men and boys in an effort to end domestic violence.

“One of the most effective ways to address domestic violence is for men – especially those in positions of authority – to not only model positive behavior, but also to engage younger men and boys about what it means to be a man,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “As a father and a fellow member of the law enforcement community, we are uniquely positioned to help stop violence against women.”

Throughout his career, Sheriff Koutoujian has been committed to working on behalf of domestic violence victims and raising awareness on important issues including stalking, teen dating violence and sexual assault. As a state representative, the Sheriff authored and enacted laws to increase protections for victims of domestic violence and fought to maintain a state run nursing program (SANE) that works with victims of sexual assault. Sheriff Koutoujian is also a former board member and current advisory board member of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence.

Sheriff Koutoujian will join leaders from across the Commonwealth – including Campaign Chairpersons Northwest District Attorney David E. Sullivan and Northeastern University Director of Athletics and Recreation Peter Roby – for a State House ceremony on March 5, 2015. The campaign theme for this year’s Massachusetts White Ribbon Day is #REIMAGINEMANHOOD, with a focus on promoting positive masculinity.

The Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign is part of an international effort to urge men to speak out against violence against women. Since launching the campaign in Massachusetts in 2008, Jane Doe Inc. has recruited over 594 White Ribbon Day Ambassadors, 86 White Ribbon Day Affiliates and tens of thousands of men and boys have signed a pledge to end domestic violence.

For more information on this year’s campaign, please visit: http://whiteribbonday.janedoe.org/.

– Submitted by Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian’s office