MEMBERs of the Central Coast community are being encouraged to march to help prevent men’s violence against women this Sunday May 5, starting at 3pm from the Brian McGowan Bridge on the Gosford Waterfront and concluding at Eat Street café.
The Central Coast community's own march comes within a week of a series of rallies held around Australia including those held in Canberra (the No More rally) and Victoria’s Federation Square, remembering women who died due to domestic violence.
ember for Gosford, Liesl Tesch MP says more work needs to be done to prevent violence against women.
“This Sunday’s march is a call-to-action, to encourage Coasties to come together to say enough is enough and that more needs to be done at every level to address family, domestic and sexual violence. It is deeply concerning that a woman dies every four days, on average, at the hands of a partner. This is simply unacceptable. Our community is faced with a crisis and we need to act urgently," she said.
“Women deserve the right to be safe in every space. We are seeing too many women lose their lives. Staying in unsafe environments. Staying in violent relationships. Experiencing declining mental health from staying in toxic situations.
“We need to set a better example for the next generation – that violence and abuse is never their fault.”
Ms Tesch anticipates many women who have been marching on this issue for several decades will again be showing their support on Sunday.
Victim survivor, women's advocate and social worker, Sue McCarthy, who will be speaking at Eat Street cafe, says she is inspired by the actions taking place around the country.
“The marches around the country are inspiring. When I worked at Elsie Women’s Refuge in Glebe in the seventies, we took to the streets to raise awareness of women’s safety. It seems nothing has changed and women are still being killed. We must take to the streets yet again. It is very sad that men haven't taken responsibility for other men. Men can intervene with other men…it’s not only up to women to fight this, I ask men to join us in this fight for women’s right to safety,” said Elsie.
Sunday’s speaker lineup includes Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee vice chair Sharon Walsh; Renee Simpson, author of ‘I Want to Go Home - Reclaiming Power After Sexual Assault’ and facilitator of peer-led support group, The Survivor Hub MeetUp in Gosford; and Anannya Bandaru, Central Coast Youth Citizen of the Year.
“This March is open to everyone in our community. Violence against women is not simply a women’s issue, it is the responsibility of our entire community and I encourage everyone, of all genders and ages, to join the Central Coast March for Women.”
