By Emily-Rose Toohey
Warwick’s March for Justice gathering will take place this Sunday 6 March at 4pm in support of National Day of Action.
It is designed to raise awareness of gendered violence and encourage impacted women and children to seek local support services.
The gathering will be at Leslie Park, and Southern Downs’ Women’s Advocacy and Action Team (WAAT) said its purpose is to shine a spotlight on the problem.
The team comprises of Sue Hamlet, Kathy Payne, and Judy Hefferan, and the gathering’s postponement due to the weather has not deterred their mission – actions not words.
“We became active after initiating a small but mighty grass roots pop up protest outside David Littleproud’s office in 2021, in conjunction with the national March for Justice movement,” the WAAT team said.
“Our demands are simple: safety for all women, safety at work, criminal justice reform, and real action (significant funding increases) to end gendered violence and promote gender equality.”
They said that the Southern Downs community cares about gendered violence issues and therefore need improved local services.
“Women and children do not have a reliable and effective local support system, and there is no local ‘women’s service’ or obvious pathway to support,” the WAAT team said.
“We are asking for timely, reliable and effective on the ground supports – currently it is the opposite.
“Change is necessary and possible – the time for change is now.”
They said that attending the March for Justice gathering shows solidarity with those who have died from or have been impacted by gendered violence.
“It also shows the funding decision makers that our locals recognise the problem and need for services,” they said.
“One in three women (31.1 per cent) have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a man they know, and one in four Australian women (23 per cent) have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner.”
Attendees must wear black and will be provided with teal ribbons.
For more information, contact Women’s Advocacy and Action Team (Southern Downs) via Facebook or email: waat.sdowns@gmail.com
