Thousands to rally in Adelaide for March 4 Justice
Organisers say they expect thousands to protest in Adelaide today amid continuing anger over attacks on women.
SA News
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Thousands of women and supporters are expected to rally at Victoria Square on Monday to demand action against gendered violence.
The protesters will be among about 85,000 across Australia taking part in the nationwide women’s movement ‘March 4 Justice’.
Event founder Janine Hendry, who began the movement following Brittany Higgins’ allegations that a Liberal staffer raped her in the Defence Minister’s office, said the initiative aimed to improve safety for women.
“I am furious that women are being treated so badly in 2021,” she said.
“There are young women who face harassment every day, and older women who are tired and furious that we are still fighting this fight.”
SA March 4 Justice co-organiser Jessica Carr said she was inspired to take part in the event to help bring about positive change.
“I am marching because each one of us leaves a generational footprint for the generations to come and we have an important opportunity to make lasting changes to oppressive culture for women and unheard voices, for our children’ children,” she said.
Fellow SA March 4 Justice co-organised Samantha Battams said between 3000 and 5000 people were expected to attend the Adelaide rally.
“We’re really angry and actually upset,” she said.
“We’re sick of the harassment (and) we’re sick of sex crimes not going through to being prosecuted (and) we’ve also got issues around women being revictimised through the process.”
Guest speakers at the SA march include human rights barrister Claire O’Conner SC, Working Women’s Centre SA director Abbey Kendall, Fringe Festival musical director and performer Victoria Falconer-Pritchard and SA Aboriginal Action Group founder Janette Milera.
Nationally, protesters are calling for a raft of action, including full independent investigations into all cases of gendered violence and timely referrals to appropriate authorities; full implementation of the 55 recommendations in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect@Work report; and the enactment of a federal gender equality Act to promote gender equality.
In South Australia, the rally is also calling for s series of initiatives, including legislation to put the onus on employers to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination; a review of the way sexual assault crimes are reported, investigated and prosecuted to ensure barriers are decreased; and the establishment of a code of conduct for SA MPs.
They also want the full implementation of the 16 recommendations made by the SA Equal Opportunity Commissioner in her review of harassment in SA Parliament.
As The Advertiser reported earlier this month, an Equal Opportunity Commissioner inquiry into SA Parliament found sexual and discriminatory harassment was prevalent in the parliamentary workplace.
The Adelaide march will begin at Victoria Square at 12pm before protesters march along King William St towards North Tce before returning to Victoria Square.
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