The City of Whittlesea is uniting with its community for this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence.
An annual international campaign, 16 Days of Activism starts on November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – and continues until December 10 on Human Rights Day.
On average, a woman in Australia is killed by a man they know every 10 days.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson encouraged people to get involved in conversations about respect, to foster healthy relationships between family members, friends and colleagues, as well as to challenge gender-based assumptions.
“The City of Whittlesea is committed to preventing violence against women and to creating a future where all women are safe, equal and respected,” she 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.”
For more information about how to get involved, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/genderequity.
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