Join us on the walk against gender-based violence

Published on 25 November 2022

As part of the international campaign of 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, Hepburn Shire Council is inviting community members to come together and walk together in Trentham, Daylesford, Creswick and Clunes.

The walks will start at the library in each town at 3.30pm on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Friday 25 November.

This is the first day of the 16-day campaign, which runs until Friday 10 December – International Human Rights Day. Council is using the walks as an opportunity to raise awareness about gender-based violence and as a call for action to prevent it.

“We invite you to join your local community in this positive way to highlight the problem of gender-based violence. United we can show that violence is not tolerated,” said Mayor, Cr Brian Hood.

The gentle walk will be manageable for people of all levels of fitness and all abilities. Please bring a hat and drink bottle and we encourage you to wear a piece of orange clothing, as this is the colour of the campaign.

Why walk against gender-based violence?

- One in three women globally experience violence by an intimate partner or non-partner.

- Every nine days in Australia a woman is killed by her current or former partner.

- 60% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.

- More than 40% of LGBTIQA+ people have experienced abuse in intimate relationships.

- Up to 14% of older people experience abuse.

- Family and domestic violence is the single largest cause of homelessness for women.

- 39% of people in crisis accommodation are children under the age of 14. - 68% of mothers who experienced violence said their children had seen or heard the violence.

- Family violence in Victoria is increasing.

Sources: Safe Steps; World Health Organization; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; La Trobe University; Our Watch.