The City of Whittlesea joins 16 Days of Activism to prevent violence against women

The City of Whittlesea is proud to unite with our community in this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence.

Commencing on 25 November which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concluding on 10 December, celebrated as Human Rights Day, this campaign aims to raise awareness and promote the prevention of gender-based violence.

Right now, on average a woman in Australia is killed by a man they know every 10 days.

Chair Administrator Lydia Wilson encouraged everyone to engage in conversations about respect to foster healthy relationships between family members, friends and colleagues and to challenge assumptions that are based on gender.

“The City of Whittlesea is committed to preventing violence against women and to creating a future where all women are safe, equal and respected,” Lydia said.

“Violence against women is preventable, and this 16 Days of Activism and beyond, we have an opportunity to change the story.”

“That's why we’re inviting everyone to start a conversation and challenge gender-based assumptions. This could mean talking to your partner about sharing housework fairly, dividing parenting responsibilities equally, or teaching children that it's okay to express their emotions, no matter their gender.”

"It’s a good time to start asking: What types of relationships do we want children to experience throughout their lives? What sort of world do we want children to grow up in, where gender equity is normal, expected, and experienced by everyone?”

“By discussing topics about equality and respect, we can contribute to preventing violence against women.”

This 16 Days of Activism and beyond, we can all work together to change the story and prevent violence against women.

For more information about how to get involved, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/genderequity.

Head to the Safe and Equal website for the community calendar of events happening across the state, and the Respect Victoria website for tips and tools.