Bass Coast Shire Council will be facilitating ‘chats’ with its employees and the community, throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign, which starts today (25 November).
Let’s Chat Gippsland is this year’s regional approach to the campaign, led by Gippsland Women’s Health. The 16-day campaign starts on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) and ends on International Human Rights Day on 10 December. Sixteen Days of Activism is an international initiative, designed to galvanise individuals, communities and organisations to address gender inequality, gender-based violence and take action to prevent violence before it starts.
For the first time ever, communities across Gippsland have been working together on activities with one clear message; Let’s Chat to create a Gippsland where all women and girls are respected, valued and treated as equals.
Bass Coast Shire CEO, Ali Wastie said, “Every day, we work to build awareness and prevent violence in our workplace and across our community and the 16 Days of Activism is an important time for all of us who value equality, fairness and safety.”
“For this reason, we are excited to create the opportunity for our people and our community to talk about gender equity and why it is important.”
Through partnerships with local organisations, community groups and schools, drop in ‘chat’ sessions have been scheduled throughout the 16-day period. Anyone interested in dropping by for a chat can do so on Friday, 10 December from 12.00pm to 2.00pm in Wishart Reserve, Wonthaggi. This session will include presentations/speakers from Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault, New Wave Gippsland, Wellways and Gippsland Women’s Health, as well as Council.
Council will also acknowledge the 16-day campaign by flying an orange flag each day at the Civic Centre in Wonthaggi – a bright colour representing a future free from violence – to demonstrate solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence.
“We are working in partnership with Bass Coast Health, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Westernport Water, Gippsland Women’s Health, Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault and the local Partnership to Prevent Family Violence in South Gippsland and Bass Coast and many other agencies across the year to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women,” Ms Wastie said.
“The I6 Days of Activism is an important time for us to call attention to this work and the human rights of equality, fairness and safety,” Ms Wastie concluded.
