Rallies aim to end violence against women

The No More! National Rally Against Gender-Based Violence rallies are organised by community organisation What Were You Wearing?

What Were You Wearing? is an organisation that offers advocacy, awareness and education primarily about sexual violence.

The No More! rallies, in particular, aim to raise awareness, advocate for change and address the pressing issue of violence that disproportionately impacts women, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people and Indigenous communities.

At the time of writing this article, there were rallies scheduled to be held in five states and one territory, with five in Victoria, including four regionally in Nathalia, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong. Shepparton did not have its own rally planned.

Nathalia resident Steph Sparrow said the event in her town was being organised by some teachers from St Mary of the Angels after seeing posts online about the rallies in capital cities.

“It’s time to say enough,” Ms Sparrow said.

“We’re just asking people to show up, and if they wish to speak, they can. Anyone is welcome.”

A Shepparton survivor of domestic violence who has chosen to remain anonymous separated from her husband because he had become violent.

But in the months that immediately followed the separation, the violence didn’t stop; it escalated.

“He logged into my CCTV, he broke into my house, he withheld our children after visitation and the police couldn’t do a thing about retrieving them because I didn’t have an IVO (intervention order) in place yet,” she said.

“Even reporting what had happened wasn’t enough for them to help me try to protect my kids that day when things were at their most volatile; I was told it was a civil matter without an order and didn’t become a criminal matter until one was in place and had been broken.

“I was one of the lucky ones to survive, but how utterly bizarre that I should even feel grateful a man spared my life when he’d have had no right to take it anyway, just because he was upset.

“I will be rallying on Sunday in Bendigo for all the women and children and anyone else who weren’t so ‘lucky’ and to hopefully inspire some changes to our legal system to help protect us and our children more.”

For more information on the work What Were You Wearing? does and details on rallies, visit whatwereyouwearingaus.org

If you have experienced or are experiencing violence, free legal help and support are available by contacting ARC Justice at the Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre in Shepparton on 5831 0900. ARC Justice provides information on intervention orders, legal protections and support services.