Uniting Vic.Tas is taking a stance during this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, aimed at ending gender-based violence.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global initiative from the United Nations, designed to galvanise individuals, communities, and organisations to address gender inequalities, gender-based violence and take action to prevent violence before it starts.
The campaign starts on Thursday 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The campaign runs until World Human Rights Day on 10 December.
A major part of the campaign will be the Walk Against Family Violence, which will be taking place at locations across Victoria including Melbourne, Dandenong, Shepparton and Sale on Thursday 25 November.
Family violence is the single largest contributor to homelessness for women in Australia and the leading contributor to preventable illness, disability and death for women aged 15 to 44.
Staff and volunteers from across Uniting will take part in the walks.
Uniting Vic.Tas CEO Bronwyn Pike urged the community to continuing speaking up and reporting family violence.
“We all deserve the right to feel safe in our own homes,” Ms Pike said.
“The most insidious aspect of family violence is that it mostly happens behind closed doors, so it’s largely hidden, often until it’s too late.
“We know family violence can happen to anyone – it could be a family member, a friend, someone at work or even your neighbour.
“The 16 Days of Activism is about raising awareness of gender-based and family violence, speaking up and taking action to prevent it from happening.
“At Uniting, we’re proud to provide a range of integrated and wrap-around services for people escaping violence, including housing and homelessness support.”
