November 13th 2024.
This weekend, people from all walks of life are expected to gather in the major cities of Australia. They will come together to honor the lives of women and children who have tragically lost their lives at the hands of their partners. The goal of these gatherings is to raise awareness about domestic, family, and sexual violence, and to remember those who have been taken from us too soon.
The past two weeks have seen 11 more women lose their lives, bringing the total number of women killed this year to 81. It is a heartbreaking statistic that cannot be ignored. That is why the National Rally Collective, led by victim-survivors and community members, has organized this weekend's rally. Madison Hooker, the Volunteer Team Lead for the collective, shared with 9news.com.au that she is anticipating hundreds of people to turn up for the "snap rally" in major cities and regional centers.
At the Sydney gathering, the Chief Executive of Full Stop Australia will also speak. Hooker believes that this rally is necessary not only to demand change, but also to honor the lives that have been lost. She explained, "People are becoming more and more aware of the severity of this crisis. Last year, in the entire year of 2023, there were 74 women killed. This year, we have already reached that number. It's a staggering figure. As I was making the banner for the rally and writing each woman's name on it, it hit me just how many lives have been taken. More than I know personally or can even name off the top of my head. It's absolutely devastating."
Sadly, violence against women is prevalent in all communities and cultures. A shocking 39% of women have experienced some form of violence since the age of 15. On average, one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner. This weekend, the 81st victim, Shirley So, was killed in a hotel room at the Pullman in Penrith. A 53-year-old man has been charged with her murder.
"These women are our teachers, our soccer coaches, our neighbors, people we see regularly at the doctor's office," Hooker stated, "It's beyond heartbreaking. There's no other way to describe it." She hopes that the rally over the weekend will provide a safe space for people to come together and reflect on the lives that have been lost. The National Rally Collective's social media pages have a complete list of locations and times for the rallies.
In case of any need for support, the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service is available at 1800RESPECT. Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue, and Triple Zero are also available for emergencies. The Men's Referral Service can be contacted at 1300 766 491 for assistance. Let us all come together to honor and remember the women and children we have lost, and to demand a change in our society to end this epidemic of violence against women.
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