Powys residents have shown their support for ending violence against women and girls.

They took part in White Ribbon walks in Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, and Newtown this week.

The walks were organised by Powys County Council as part of White Ribbon Day, which took place on Monday, November 25.

This year, the White Ribbon charity aimed to involve more men in changing harmful gender-based behaviours and attitudes, using the theme 'It Starts With Men'.

Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council’s deputy leader and a White Ribbon lead ambassador, said: "Together we can prevent violence against women and girls.

"It starts with men.

"Violence against women and girls is rooted in harmful masculine traits.

"Starting with men, we must address the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to a fear of violence for women in their day-to-day lives.

"I am asking men and boys in Powys to make the White Ribbon promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women and girls, which can be done online on the White Ribbon UK website."

This year’s walks in Newtown  (Image: Powys County Council)

Powys County Council is a White Ribbon accredited organisation, meaning it has committed to ending violence against women in Powys communities, improving its own workplace culture, and ensuring the safety of its female employees.

White Ribbon works to prevent violence against women and girls by encouraging men and boys to make changes to the way they act and behave.

This year, it highlighted that 70 per cent of women in the UK say they have experienced sexual harassment in public, and three in five women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse in the workplace.

17 per cent of women in Wales have experienced online violence, and nearly a quarter of girls in mixed-sex schools said they had experiences of unwanted sexual touching in school.

In the year ending March 2023, 1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse.

63 per cent of men agree that men in society aren’t doing enough to ensure the safety of women and girls.