The harrowing statistics behind Reclaim the Night march

THE recent Reclaim the Night march in Coffs Harbour served as a harrowing reminder of the extent and impact of gender-based violence in the community.

The statistics are wholly alarming.

The Facebook page ‘Counting Dead Women’ has recorded 43 violent deaths of women so far this year in Australia and the NSW Rape Crisis Centre reports that one in five women in Australia will experience sexual assault in their lifetime.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in six women in 2021–22 had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) indicates that domestic violence is much more prevalent in regional areas than in Sydney and areas towards Newcastle, and NSW Police are called to a domestic violence incident every three minutes.

A NSW Police spokesperson told NOTA that around “60 percent of police time is spent on domestic and family violence incidents”.

“It’s a confronting reality that at some point in their lives, almost every Australian will be touched by domestic and family violence, whether as a victim, a loved one, or a witness.,” they said.
“Domestic and family violence doesn’t discriminate.

“It affects people of all ages, genders, sexualities, backgrounds, and relationships.”

Speakers at last Friday’s Reclaim the Night event talked about how domestic violence affects people from all sections of society, and offered inspiring accounts of surviving it.

In attendance was Celeste Abell, a member of Growing Respect Awareness and Community Engagement (GRACE).

“It was wonderful that many people beeped their horns in support,” she said.

“One walker said she had been wanting to march for years and, this year, felt safe enough to march, which shows the importance of having events like this annually.”

The march is not the only action being taken by GRACE.

“We deliver a range of community engagement campaigns annually,” Celeste said.

One of them, ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’, began on Tuesday, on the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and will last until 10 December, which is International Human Rights Day.

Displays marking the 16 Days of Activism can be found in Park Beach Plaza and Toormina Shopping Centre.

Coffs Harbour police had a domestic violence and Crime Stoppers pop-up stall at Park Beach Plaza on Wednesday.

“Whether it’s through your local police station, Crime Stoppers, or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, help is available, and we will listen,” the NSW Police spokesperson said.

“In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).”

By Andrew VIVIAN