The 30th annual international campaign to end violence against women kicks off this Thursday.
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Beginning on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the 16 Days of Activism campaign will fight to bring the issue of gender-based violence to the forefront of conversation.
And organisation's across the region are joining in on this fight.
The Centre of Non-Violence, Annie North Women's Refuge and the Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria have come together on Wednesday to open an exhibition, Time for Change, displayed across the next 16 days at Bendigo Library.
The exhibition - a series of artworks created by women and children who have been clients of the three organisations - is a platform for the voices of women and children with lived experience of family violence and sexual assault.
The works are an illustration of women's journeys of recovery, focusing on healing and offering messages of hope to other survivors.
"This exhibition reflects the experience of victim/survivors of family violence and it reflects and incredible and hopeful way," CNV programs and services executive manager Yvette Jaczina said.
"It features artwork and messages from victim/survivors that they have created through their journey of recovery when they've been connected to the services of the CNV, Annie North and CASACV.
"They are supported in a program we call Safe Thriving and Connected and the women have the opportunity, as a part of their journey of recovery, participate in art-based therapy and you'll see when you have a look at the beautiful artwork, they've got messages of hope and support directed to the future clients of the services."
The exhibition also includes photographs documenting a time in history when women rallied across Australia, saying 'enough'.
Enough of their voices not being heard. Their stories not believed. Their calls for action ignored. Their history, silenced.
A time when women took to the streets, because the time for change was long ago.
That's not to say the time for change is over.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls, across the globe - and promotes essential actions anyone can take to address the serious issue of violence against women in all communities.
In Victoria, the theme for 2021 is Respect Women, Call It Out.
Globally the theme for this years campaign is Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now.
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Both themes engage people to recognise when there is disrespect towards women.
Recognise it exists across society. Across the world.
Recognise the conditions that contribute to gender-based violence.
Recognise it is everyone's responsibility to raise awareness and take action. Say something.
CNV chief executive Margaret Augerinos called for gender-based violence - which she said was one of the leading social issues across Australia - to have ongoing focus, outside of the campaign.
"We are still seeing on average, one woman a week being murdered by a current or former partner," she said.
"If we had these deaths occurring in other contexts, there would be greater community outrage.
The 16 days of activism shine a light on this - but it really is a national emergency and is beyond time that we need to do significantly more.
- Margaret Augerinos
"We've seen too many horror stories and tragedies where women have tried to leave, where women do absolutely everything right, they seek support, they get intervention orders, they seek safety, and still they are stalked, harassed and murdered."
CASACV chief executive Kate Wright said it was time for the violence to end.
"We know if we don't call out and name behaviours of abuse, violence and harassment the impact of the behaviour negatively affects the victim's wellbeing and may lead to adverse long-term physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health outcomes," she said.
"It is time to stop the violence, harassment, abuse and disrespect. And it begins with each one of us standing up, taking account of our actions, having conversations with our partners, friends, family members, in schools, in workplaces, holding others to account, reflecting on our own behaviour, and changing our society together.
"The spotlight on sexual assault and violence across Australia this year has created a groundswell of community outrage. We want to maintain the community momentum because no child or adult should ever experience sexual violence."
Annie North Women's Refuge chief executive Julie Oberin has been supporting victims/survivors of domestic and family violence for as long as the 16 Days of Activism has existed.
For 30 years she has educated community influencers and government decision makers about what survivors of family violence need and what is needed to prevent gender-based violence.
"We are still to see the required, concerted effort from the federal government to genuinely and purposely commit to doing what needs to be done," she said.
"Enough is enough."
CNV, CASACV and Annie North are challenging all members of the community to visit the exhibition, and educate themselves on what they can do to be an active bystander and Respect Women: Call it out.
The 16 days of violence campaign concludes on December 10, otherwise known as Human Rights Day. After all, isn't it simply a human right to be safe?
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