27 Women Killed In 2024: Aussies Protest Against Gender Based Violence

Protests have been happening all over Australia in light of the recent wave of violence against women. Protests have been happening across the nation in Brisbane, The Gold Coast, Melbourne and Newcastle. In the continued incidents of violence that have occurred since the beginning of the year, over 27 women have died in 114 days. 

Why Are The Protests Happening?

Recently, a 30-year-old mother was killed by a man in a house fire. Earlier this year, a man had murdered six women in cold blood, prompting protestors to take to the streets demanding the government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to 'do their job'. Seeing the recent rise in the violence against women, almost 3000 protestors gathered outside the parliament to protest against the lack of any legislative change.

"Not enough is being done to change people's mindset and to change legislation." a protestor told the Guardian. 

The protestors were also demanding for the crisis to be considered a national emergency so as to ensure the safety of women. The protests were organised by What Were You Wearing (WWYW), an organisation advocating for and working with sexual assault victims. 

Following intense pressure, the Prime Minister recently gave a speech at a protest in Canberra. "It's up to men to change men's behaviour," he told the protestors. He expressed sympathy for the cause, stating that it was indeed a nationwide crisis and it had to be dealt with accordingly. However, he refused to classify the problem as a national emergency, stating that the term was used exclusively for natural disasters. He also explained that the problem was not small enough that it should be subjected to just a few months of attention; this was a broader problem that needed to be worked on "day after day, month after month and year after year". 

The protestors expressed dismay at the sheer lack of any actionable steps on the part of the government to mitigate the violence. At the same time, the protests have become a safe space for women to express their concerns and to engage in conversations about violence meaningfully.  

"This makes me feel like I am not alone like I am supported by everyone here," said Helen Cooper, a business owner, to the media.