Help end violence against women and girls by joining this annual campaign
It’s an international movement, but you can join in and show your support locally during the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, with events happening on the North Shore.
The campaign starts on 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The events are designed to send a collective call for action against family and domestic violence.
It’s also an opportunity for organisations who support women and children experiencing family violence to raise community awareness.
Mary’s House Services provides women and children escaping domestic violence with emergency accommodation. Yvette Viganando, chief executive officer, says more funding is needed to keep women and children safe, as the need is outstripping demand for their service.
“On average, one child a fortnight dies in a domestic or family violence incident,” Yvette says. And while it used to be that one woman a week was killed under these circumstances, Yvette says ‘that’s one statistic that’s definitely on the rise this year.’
“The whole campaign is about getting the broader community to understand that gender-based violence is an emergency. It’s calling on the community to take action, to show their concern and wish to do something about violence against women and girls,” she says.
Mary’s House, along with its community outreach service, the Daisy Centre, receives no government funding, and relies on community donations and philanthropic support to keep its doors open.
Yvette says they will use the campaign to increase communication to the public about the services they provide to the community, and ‘inspiring people to help us,’ by way of volunteering, or by donating to the service.
Likewise, Women and Children First (WACF), a crisis accommodation service on the Lower North Shore, currently turns away 10 families a week, says Hannah Mayjor, advocacy officer. “Unfortunately, the domestic violence crisis is compounded by the housing crisis, making it incredibly difficult to secure housing for our clients when our refuges are full,” she says.
Hannah Mayjor from WACF
During the 16 Days of Activism, WACF encourages people to donate on their website, as the government funding they receive covers only 25 per cent of the clients they serve. And for those who can’t afford a donation, Hannah encourages them to follow WACF’s social media pages and engage with their advocacy content over this period. “We know that one in six women are affected by domestic, family and sexual violence, so the issue is much closer to home than people might think. Sharing our educational resources, free support programs or advocacy online might just save a life.”
Yvette Viganando has seen an increase in demand at Mary’s House
If you are in immediate danger, call 000. If you need advice or emergency accommodation, contact Mary’s House on 1800 002 111 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). For help 24/7, call the NSW Domestic Violence line on 1800 656 463. To donate, visit: maryshouse.org. au; or womenandchildrenfirst.org.au
1 MINUTE SILENCE4VIOLENCE Wednesday 4 December | 1pm | Lane Cove Plaza, Lane Cove
One minute of silence will be held at 1pm to remember the lives lost to domestic and family violence. There will also be stalls including NSW Police, womens refuges, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service and counselling services. Hosted by Lane Cove Council with North Sydney, Mosman and Willoughby councils.
ANTI-VIOLENCE WALK Friday 29 November | 3pm | Chatswood
Willougby City Council will host an anti-violence walk, starting with an afternoon tea at the Dougherty Centre, Chatswood. A walk will then take place along Victor Street and finish at Chatswood Mall, where a Lower North Shore Domestic Violence Network information stall will be set up. The public is encouraged to visit the stall to get information and resources on the causes of gender-based violence and the best ways to prevent it from happening in the community.
Details: See events page of the Willoughby Council website.