An art protest drawing attention to gendered violence in Australia is set to take place in Melbourne on Friday night.
At 5:30pm on the steps of the State Library, over a hundred women will gather dressed in black with red veils to honour the lives of the 101 women who lost their lives to violence in 2024. The event will acknowledge the survivors who continue to live with the impacts everyday, as well as a call for action against the rising femicide in the country.
In 2024, 101 Australian women lost their lives to gendered violence, according to the Australian Femicide Watch — up from 74 in 2023.
The protest’s organiser, activist and artist Fleassy Malay, said that the event is not only to raise awareness of the staggering figures, but also provide a chance for people to feel connected and empowered in their efforts to tackle the issue.
“I know this one action alone will not change the dismal state of gendered violence in Australia, but it is one more opportunity to say ‘stop killing women’ and one more opportunity to be heard,” Malay told Women’s Agenda, adding that she hopes attendees and passing pedestrians will “…feel a spark of something; anger, grief, inspiration, drive for change. We are there to honour the women lost, and to show solidarity together.”
On Friday, the protest will commence with an address by Dr Niki Vincent, the Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner for Victoria, followed by a silent protest featuring the hundred-and-one volunteers who answered a call-out made by Malay. According to her, the participants are most likely to be impacted by gendered violence; cis women, trans women, non-binary and gender diverse people and trans men.
“There are a huge variety of ages, backgrounds, and lived experiences in the group, including a lot of survivors,” Malay said. “To me that says something, that once again it is the victims of violence that are doing the work. It’s been heart warming and affirming to be surrounded by such enthusiasm, passion, and support over an issue which is imbued with such pain and trauma for so many.”
The community driven project was organised by several other individuals who have supported the event in various ways.
Malay, whose artistic work champions feminist values, believes that art is at the core of social awareness and education.
“Art creates belonging and it gives power to the issues of our time,” she explained. “I have learnt so much from art, even now as an adult; it is through the Spoken Word scene of Melbourne, and the generosity of the writers within it, that I have gained invaluable insight into the lived experiences of people whose struggles and journeys have been different to mine. I believe I am a better person for it. It is through listening to these stories that we can become fuller, more rounded and nuanced people. Art is innately political.”
Malay wants the red veils to be worn by the participants to represent “how much we avoid looking at this issue as a country.”
“If one woman walks past us and goes home knowing that she deserves to be safe in her own home, that is a win,” she said. “If one man walks past and realises it is time to look deeper within himself then that is a win.”
“We, as women, can stand and exclaim over and over again that we deserve to live, but the change will only happen when men decide it too. Ninety per cent of the killers of the women and children lost in 2024 were men. So often gendered violence is classed as a “woman’s issue” when in fact the issue is male violence. Only when we, as a society, can accept this, and when men start to have the conversation around this too, will it change.”
In the two weeks since the beginning of 2025, three Australian women have been killed by a man, according to Sherele Moody’s Australian Femicide Watch.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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