Kent is formally voicing its abhorrence of violence against women and girls in a county-wide support of White Ribbon Day today.

People throughout the area are expected to wear white ribbons to make a symbolic stand against the brutality by rogue men.

This county particularly feels the wound after the killings of Sarah Everard and Julia James earlier this year.

The parents of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, murdered in London last year, also live in Kent.

Dover District Council has publicly pledged its support with members and their chief executive, Nadeem Aziz, photographed wearing white ribbons for today. They will keep them on for up to a fortnight.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, leader of Dover council, said: “Violence against women has been brought tragically into focus in the district this year.

"We must do everything within our power to end this misery, and to work with partners to end violence against women once and for all.”

Cllr Kevin Mills, leader of the opposition, said: “Male violence against women can never be condoned and we’re determined to do everything in our power to ensure women are safe. I am pleased that the council is encouraging participation by councillors, staff and schools in the White Ribbon campaign.

At a full meeting on October 20 members unanimously agreed to encourage all male members to take a pledge never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.

They also agreed to take the necessary steps to achieve White Ribbon accreditation, joining the large number of public sector bodies that have already done so.

The vote that day was also to encourage participation among council staff and local primary and secondary schools.

At the meeting Cllr Charlotte Zosseder gave a moving account of a woman she knew who had taken her own life after harassment from an ex-partner.

Dover coucil is formally supporting the White Ribbon UK.

Kent organisations listed on the charity's website as other backers are Gravesham Borough Council, Kent Police, Medway Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

Last month more than £700,000 was granted to help make the streets in parts of Kent safer for women and girls.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, was awarded £741,548 to make the streets of Ashford, Rochester and Chatham safer.

The money is for personal safety equipment, drink testing kits and personal alarms, as well as providing safe havens and installing more CCTV and improved street lighting.

It is part of the Home Office Safer Streets initiative and complements three similar projects already running in Gillingham, Canterbury and Ramsgate.

Mr Scott is a White Ribbon ambassador.

For last year's White Ribbon Day a woman told how she escaped after 10 years of domestic abuse and ended up leading a chain of three refuges in West Kent.

White Ribbon UK is part of a global movement to end male violence against women.

The UK charity engages with men and boys to make a stand against it.

The mission is to encouraging people, and especially men and boys, to individually and collectively take action and change behaviour.

Sarah Everard, 33, was abducted in south London on March 3 and ended up being taken to the outskirts of Dover where she was raped and strangled. Her remains were found at woodland near Great Chart, Ashford.

Wayne Couzens, 48, of Freemen's Way, Deal, was a serving armed policeman at the time and later in court admitted kidnapping, raping and murdering her.

He was given a whole life sentence on September 30.

PCSO Julia James, 53, died from head injuries in Snowdown on April 27.

Callum Wheeler, 21, of Sunshine Corner Avenue, Aylesham, was accused of her murder but last month in court pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Last month Damal Hussein, 19, was jailed for at least 35 years for murdering Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in Wembley.

The victims' parents, Chris and Wilhelmina Smallman, are from Ramsgate.