More than 10,000 Victorians flooded the streets of Melbourne on Sunday, marching against gender-based violence from the State Library to Federation Square.
The rally was part of a nationwide movement to honour women who lost their lives to domestic violence.
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Premier Jacinta Allan, federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, and federal independent MPs Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel also joined the protest.
“I want to thank the thousands and thousands of Victorians and Australians who have come together over the course of this weekend to say enough is enough,” Ms Allan said.
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She emphasised the urgency for the government to take more action to prevent violence against women.
“Women deserve the right, we demand the right to be safe in every space, in every space. And we are seeing continuously too many women are losing their lives.”
Data shows that the rate at which men in Australia allegedly kill women has risen significantly higher in 2024 than in recent years.
The deaths of a minimum of 26 women within the initial 114 days of 2024 equates to an average of one fatality every 4.38 days.
The rallies were organised by What Were You Wearing, a not-for-profit fighting against gender-based violence.
The organisation calls for increased funding for support services, better reporting options for victims, and responsible media coverage of incidents.
Martina Ferreta, the organisation’s social media manager, said the organisation wanted the government to acknowledge this as a “national emergency”.
“I want to thank each and every one of you who have attended today, especially in a time when a lot of us aren’t feeling safe outside simply because they exist. It takes a lot of bravery to be out there.”
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the crisis line at Safe Steps.
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