Thousands march in calls to end domestic violence
Thousands of Australians took to the streets to call for action on the root causes of domestic violence and better support for survivors.
Protesters marched in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Wollongong, Tamworth, Gold Coast and Toowoomba on Saturday as part of Australia’s events against gender-based violence.
Many held posters with statistics showing the extent of the problem in Australia, while others wore shirts commemorating loved ones lost to domestic or family violence.
As the internet increasingly becomes a platform where misogynistic content is displayed and promoted, some have targeted “manosphere” culture and male behavior.
“Domestic violence is often swept under the rug by politicians and the media,” attendee Rachel Garrett told AAP at the Sydney event.
“Many women suffer in silence, afraid of the men in their lives.
“In the current cultural climate where young men are being radicalized by public figures like Andrew Tate, it is really important to call on our government to do better and stand in solidarity with women around the world.”
victim-survivor and lawyer Brittany Higgins appeared at the Melbourne rally with her husband during a speech by event organizer Sarah Williams.
“Sexual violence thrives on silence and stigma,” Ms Williams told AAP.
“When victims are asked what they were wearing, where they were, or what they were doing, the focus is on the victim rather than the perpetrator responsible.”
Rallies were first held in 2024 following the Bondi Junction shopping center attack. During the attack, a knife-wielding man killed six people and injured a dozen others, mostly women.
This year the organization has called on federal and state governments to better fund frontline services including men’s behavior modification, legislate AI duty of care to stop abuse facilitated by the controversial technology, and offer free counseling and support to all victim survivors.
“Our sector operates every day as Australia’s fourth emergency service,” Women’s Community Shelters chief executive Annabelle Daniel told the Sydney rally.
“Every phone rings every day and services are forced to say no to people who should never be turned away.
“We cannot continue to run in good faith alone, we cannot ask women and communities to absorb what our systems refuse to bear, and we cannot ask women and children to carry the burden of resilience when the front lines are empty.”
Approximately one in seven Australians has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15; One in five women and one in 16 men report abuse.
Rallies will be held in Ballarat, Perth, NSW Central Coast, Dubbo, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Canberra and Hobart on Sunday.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
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