Sunraysia’s 16 Days of Activism to call out gender-based violence against women is spreading throughout the community with social media posts over the first week of the event attracting thousands of views.
The Respect Victoria 16 Days of Activism – Respect Women Call it Out, started on Wednesday last week and will run through until next Thursday 10 December.
It aims to educate the community on how to recognise when someone is in danger, and how to step in to help prevent the situations from escalating while keeping yourself safe – which is called being an Active Bystander.
To help ensure as many residents as possible in our region see and learn about being an Active Bystander, Council is working with SuniTAFE Diploma of Community Services 2020 graduates to promote the 16 Days of Activism in Mildura’s CBD.
Displays have been erected in a couple of vacant shopfronts within the City Heart, which is being supported by a strong social media campaign throughout the 16 Days of Activism by Council and the SuniTAFE graduates.
Mildura Mayor Jason Modica said becoming an Active Bystander was a powerful way to stop gender-based violence.
“One of the key messages throughout the 16 Days is how even the smallest of acts can potentially stop gender-based violence occurring,” Cr Modica said.
“By stepping in when you see someone is in danger and calling out the situation, you may be preventing something more serious or tragic occurring, which can make a massive difference to someone’s life.”
Common bystander interventions include:
- vocally calling out inappropriate behaviour
- physically repositioning yourself closer to the victim as a show of support
- take note of the inappropriate behaviour and report the incident to the relevant authorities after the event.
