The devastating reason why everyone is tweeting about White Ribbon today.

Content warning: This post discusses abortion and rape, and will be distressing for many readers. 

Scrolling through Twitter, every second comment seems to be mentioning White Ribbon withdrawing their support for abortion.

Yes, White Ribbon is an organisation that works to prevent men’s violence against women.

Yes, on Thursday, as first reported by Buzzfeed, the organisation withdrew a statement supporting abortion from their website; an essential procedure which should be available for all women, including the victim’s of sexual assault and domestic violence.

It doesn’t make sense. At all. And the people of Twitter were rightly furious.

Ambassador for White Ribbon, AFL player Luke Ablett, spoke out against White Ribbon’s decision, saying he will not speak on the organisation’s behalf until they changed their stance on abortion.

I won’t be speaking at any @WhiteRibbonAust events, officially sanctioned or otherwise, until this changes – White Ribbon Australia Pulled Its Support For Abortion Rights The Day After Queensland Voted To Decriminalise Abortion https://t.co/ZCFCrZEdR1

— Luke Ablett (@luke_ablett) October 18, 2018

His tweet was just one in a flood of tweets from powerful Australian figures.

#WhiteRibbon is fucked and always has been. Here they are, clearly admitting that theirs is not a feminist model but a business one whose politics are guided by their ‘stakeholders’. Via @ginarush: https://t.co/IjSKCVNkfr pic.twitter.com/6UtO86udl3

— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) October 19, 2018

As a white Ribbon Ambassador I strongly disagree with this decision by @WhiteRibbonAust. Women must have full access to abortion services and it is a fundamental part of gender equality. We can’t be ‘agnostic’ about gender equality. https://t.co/P06wsxAXgf

— Rob Manwaring (@RobManwaring) October 18, 2018

There have been female voices criticising #WhiteRibbon for a long time, @clementine_ford to name just one. I’m ashamed to say I dismissed them, thought I knew better. Not anymore. I take 3 important lessons from this: listen to women, listen to women, listen to women. https://t.co/GAPNiqumOZ

— Benjamin T. Jones (@DrBenjaminJones) October 19, 2018

We are profoundly disappointed and have now cut ties with White Ribbon https://t.co/xmpGB5pkbx

— Michelle Thompson (@MichelleT_MSA) October 18, 2018

Apparently White Ribbon have withdrawn their support for reproductive rights. In that case they are no longer a pro-women organisation but an agent of patriarchy. Without control of our bodies there is no liberty. I am very disappointed.

— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) October 19, 2018

More proof White Ribbon is more about making men feel good than actually helping women https://t.co/NO6YDqHxk2

— Jenny Noyes (@jennynoise) October 18, 2018

What kind of message is white ribbon sending rape victims who require an abortion? Or women whose partners use reproductive coercion to lock them into the cycle of violence?Or any woman who wants to control her own body, instead of the state? https://t.co/Owk3tv6yfp via @ginarush

— Nina Funnell (@ninafunnell) October 19, 2018

your regular reminder that white ribbon exists only to make men feel better about themselves and actually does fk all to help women in need. please give directly to your local women’s shelter, abortion clinic, or to women you know who are in therapy for trauma-related issues.

— disabled kristy thomas ???????? (@kyliemaslen) October 18, 2018

You know, a lot of people have accused White Ribbon of being a bit shitty in the past. And, it’s inspiring to see them working so hard to exceed those expectations by being total dickheads. https://t.co/Fl9dzoXkPS

— MJ O’Neill (@mjoneillnoise) October 18, 2018

The other problem with #whiteribbon is that they raise awareness only. No funding of refuges, no funding of legal aid, no funding of things that actually help victims of violence. Just ‘awareness’ when action is urgently needed.

— Gravi Tas (@collette_books) October 19, 2018

After the furious backlash, the CEO apologised for the decision and today tweeted that she should not have withdrawn the reproductive rights statement.

MEA CULPA I should not have taken down reproductive rights statement ahead of the planned community consult. It is back on now. A full consult will happen: cultural + regional contexts can be included + other issues that matter to communities too 1/2 @WhiteRibbonAust @JaneCaro

— Tracy McLeod Howe (@TracyMcLeodHowe) October 19, 2018

2/3have always been staunch supporter in this area + have helped pay for women to access abortion while running a women’s refuge. 2 weeks ago I sent a @WhiteRibbonAust staffer to QLD to give evidence. The issue was community inclusion +their context needing to be heard.

— Tracy McLeod Howe (@TracyMcLeodHowe) October 19, 2018

3/3 I should have left statement on the website until after consult. I am sorry for awful twitter storm I have started, although I know some warranted, many of the personal insults are not who I am. I’ve sat in FCA with women, volunteered, drafted affidavits at 3am for DVvictims

— Tracy McLeod Howe (@TracyMcLeodHowe) October 19, 2018

And White Ribbon has now posted a new statement expressing support for women’s reproductive freedom.

#WhiteRibbon believes that all women should have complete control over their reproductive and sexual health. Sexual and reproductive rights are basic human rights. Full position statement follows: https://t.co/CMHR7ToUCu

— White Ribbon (@WhiteRibbonAust) October 19, 2018

It’s time for organisations built to protect women to actually protect the rights of women.