Urgent Calls for Action: Advocates Demand National Emergency Declaration on Violence Against Women in Australia

Advocacy groups are intensifying their calls for the government to declare violence against women a national emergency following the alleged killings of three women by men known to them within the week.

West Australian police reported on Friday that they suspect foul play in the death of a 30-year-old woman found in a home’s bedroom after a fire.

Earlier in the week, 49-year-old Emma Bates in regional Victoria and 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst in regional New South Wales were both allegedly murdered by men believed to be acquainted with them.

These incidents have ignited widespread outrage across the nation, especially considering that 25 women have lost their lives to gender-based violence this year alone, according to data from Counting Dead Women. Comparatively, there have been 11 more such deaths in 2024 than at this point last year.

Protests against gender-based violence have erupted in cities like Hobart, Sydney, and Adelaide, with additional rallies planned for Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong, Coffs Harbour, Perth, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. Gatherings have already taken place in Ballarat and Newcastle.

Sarah Williams, an organizer from advocacy group What Were You Wearing Australia, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Australia is definitely in a time of national emergency with men’s violence.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to participate in the march in Canberra on Sunday, acknowledging the alarming frequency at which women are being killed. He labeled violence against women as an “epidemic” and stressed the need for collective action to address the issue.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus acknowledged the distress within the community over the escalating number of women being murdered by those close to them. He highlighted government initiatives aimed at tackling men’s violence but emphasized the necessity for further action.

In Sydney, the issue hit close to home for some protesters, including those who had personal connections to victims of gender-based violence. They expressed frustration and heartbreak over the persistent problem.

Similar sentiments were echoed in Hobart, where hundreds gathered for a “stand still” rally, emphasizing the need for comprehensive education and immediate government intervention to ensure the safety of all women.

In Adelaide, protesters stressed the importance of male participation in addressing the issue, emphasizing the role men play in perpetuating and combatting violence against women.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for urgent action from Mr. Albanese, urging him to declare violence against women a national emergency and allocate sufficient resources to address the epidemic effectively.