Red Centre women speak out against women’s rights abuses on international anti-violence day
The international campaign started with the deaths of three sisters on November 25, 1960, who had opposed cruelty and systematic violence.
Alice Springs
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Almost 100 community members and health professionals came together at the Alice Springs Sexual Assault Referral Centre on Friday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
SARC manager Heather O’Dea said the event, which also doubled as the centre’s open day, was part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
“Speaking out against women’s rights abuses is something that women’s rights organisations do every day,” she said.
“From lobbying governments to improve laws and services to working with communities to change discriminatory attitudes and behaviours.”
Ms O’Dea said SARC and its partners would spend the 16 days highlighting the issue of violence against women in Central Australia, as well as actions being taken to drive change.
“In support of this, SARC is working with partner organisations to call for actions in the community, to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations,” she said
The international campaign started with the deaths of sisters Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal on November 25, 1960, who had opposed the cruelty and systematic violence of the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.
The Mirabal sisters became symbols of the feminist resistance, and in commemoration of their deaths, November 25 was declared International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Latin America in 1980.
The international day was then formally recognised by the United Nations in 1999.
“Violence against women continues to occur across the world and too often it is accepted as normal behaviour, although recent movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp have propelled this issue onto the global stage,” Ms O’Dea said.
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