Thousands in reclaim the night marches
"This is the one night of the year when we are safe to wear what we like, go where we like and say what we like without fear of violence", said Joy McEntee form the Women's Action Group to a crowd of 100 women marching in Hobart's Reclaim the Night protest on October 24.
"Don't let them tell you the women's movement is over until we can do this 365 nights a year, and until you can do this on your own."
In Adelaide on October 30 a noisy, purple-clad rally of 1000 women reclaimed the streets, demanding a stop to violence against women.
Speakers covered the current media explosion about the increasing incidence of violence against women and the importance of women continuing to organise and fight. A petition was circulated to oppose the current state Labor government proposal to close down the Adelaide Rape Crisis Centre.
In Sydney on the same night, more than 5000 women took to the streets. Speakers at the rally at Town Hall Square before the march set off included SBS journalist Rhoda Roberts and the Reverend Dorothy McMahon from the Uniting Church.
The crowd, made up of women of all ages and backgrounds, then marched to Kings Cross, with more marchers joining en route and many onlookers expressing support. Male supporters had been asked to stand on the sides and show their support, and many did so. Support was also shown by women workers in Kings Cross, who leaned out of their windows and waved as the march passed by.
Nine hundred women and children marched through inner city Perth on October 30 as part of the annual march against sexual violence.
Three women spoke before the march, highlighting the need to continue active campaigning against the oppression of women, as well as forging alliances with the struggles of Aboriginal and other indigenous peoples.
Also on October 30, in Melbourne 5000 women marched, chanting "Yes means yes, no means no, however we dress, wherever we go", asserting the right of women to be free from the fear of sexual violence. Whistles, chants and drums filled the city streets and attracted a lot of support from shoppers and onlookers.
Placards pointed out the reality of women's fear: most women who are raped know the perpetrator; one in four girls and one in nine boys are sexually abused; most female murder victims are killed by their spouse.
Merta Gonzales from the Centre Against Sexual Assault said that violence against women is endemic to the system, and that it affects women all over the world.