16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights violations.

25 November – 10 December

Violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights violations. Gendered violence is defined as any form of physical or non-physical violence or abuse against a person or group of people because of biased or harmful beliefs about gender.

Gender-based violence is linked to power imbalances between men and women, exacerbated by systems that fail to hold perpetrators to account, enable violence to continue or put the onus on the women it has affected. Intersecting forms of oppression, discrimination, power and privilege can limit a woman’s access to resources, independence and perceived value, and increase the probability of violence against them.

In Australia, one woman is killed every 9 days by a current or former partner. Safety and respect should never be optional.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence runs is an international campaign that runs annually, first started by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. This year’s theme by the UN is #NoExcuse for online abuse.

Did you know?

One in 3 women (28.9%) had experienced sexual and image-based abuse.
Three in 4 (72.7%) lesbian, gay and bisexual people had experienced tech-based abuse.
Two in 5 women (39%) have experienced violence since the age of 15.
One in 3 women (31%) has experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
One in 2 women (53%) has experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.
On average, one woman is killed every 9 days by a current or former partner.
Women are more likely to experience violence from someone they know than by a stranger.
Domestic or family violence is a leading driver of homelessness for women.
In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor.
Gender-based violence costs Australia $21.7 billion annually, but the human cost is immeasurable.

What we’re doing

Partnering with Sexual Assault & Family Violence (SAFV) to host Together We Can – Collective Conversations in Geelong. The event feature special guest speakers, a showcase of local initiatives and deep dive sessions, bringing the Barwon community together to explore how we can challenge gender stereotypes, foster positive masculinity, and prevent gender-based violence. Free, registrations are essential.
Bendigo staff are attending Anglicare Victoria’s screening of Safe Step’s Unanswered Calls: Shining A Light On The Silent Victims Of Domestic And Family Violence
Practitioners at CCV have undertaken MARAM training as well as the Safe and Together model to provide appropriate support for victim survivors
CCV teams including Family Services teams are joining community walks in Melton, Wyndham, Ballarat, East Melbourne and Mildura. See photos from the Melbourne walk below: