The 16 Days of Activism campaign will kick off next week with many events across Greater Geelong, helping to call for an end to gender-based violence.
Zonta Club of Geelong will host a community launch on Sunday 23 November, ahead of the official 16 Days, with the event featuring a 9am walk from Eastern Beach swimming pool to Fairnie Park.
Club president Nicole Sanders said the campaign was a time for people to reflect on what was happening in the world and encouraged everyone to attend the event.
“What we’re all about is promoting the human rights of women…and creating a better world for women and girls, so that’s what we’re all about,” she said.
“There will be stories of women who have experienced violence and what it’s meant to them and their families, and we’re also having a display honouring women lost to violence.
“There’ll be representative dolls there that represent how many women have been lost to violence this year, which at the moment is 61 women in Australia.
“We’ve been trying to increase awareness every year as it’s a global pandemic of women’s rights violations, and we advocate to fight violence against women and gender inequality.”
The 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence occurs each year from 15 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, until 10 December, International Human Rights Day.
City of Greater Geelong councillor Melissa Cadwell said everyone had a role in helping create a safer and more equal society.
“We all need to challenge harmful attitudes in our workplaces, homes, sports clubs, community groups and relationships,” she said.
“This includes simple actions, like calling out jokes that put women down, to help create a culture where women are respected.”
Geelong waterfront and Moorabool and Malop Streets’ lights will also illuminate orange during the campaign with more events listed on City of Greater Geelong’s event page.
