Thousands took to the streets of Australia's major cities over the weekend demanding tougher laws on gendered violence. The rallies were spurred by a wave of violence against women, that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an "epidemic."

Melbourne

Thousands of people across Australia took to the streets of major cities over the weekend, calling for stricter laws on gendered violence. The widespread protests were a direct response to a recent increase in violence against women, which has been starkly highlighted by the government's statistic that a woman has been killed every four days this year. This movement gained further momentum following a tragic incident in Sydney earlier this month where six individuals, including five women, were fatally stabbed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, addressing the issue, described the situation as an "epidemic" of violence against women. His comments came amid nationwide protests, emphasizing the severity of the crisis facing the country. Protesters, including a woman identified only as Natalie, voiced their anguish and frustration, calling on the government to recognize the issue as a national emergency. Natalie expressly highlighted the loss of 26 women, underscoring the profound impact of these deaths on the community and asserting that women deserve to live without fear of violence.

The rallies also saw participation from figures such as former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who pointed out the critical role men play in addressing gendered violence. Turnbull stressed the importance of men respecting women and holding their peers accountable for any form of disrespect or violence towards women. This perspective highlights the broad societal change needed to combat this issue effectively.

In solidarity with the protestors, Prime Minister Albanese announced his plans to join a rally in Canberra, reinforcing the government's commitment to addressing this urgent issue. The weekend's mass rallies across various cities underscore the growing call for action against gendered violence, signalling a crucial moment for Australia in its efforts to safeguard the rights and lives of women.



Mass rallies in Australia demand action against gendered violence

Thousands took to the streets in Sydney on Saturday, urging tougher laws on gendered violence, spurred by a wave of violence against women. The government says a woman has been killed every four days this year. Six people, including five women, were killed in a mass stabbing in Sydney this month. Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese called violence against women an epidemic on Saturday, as protests took place in cities across the country. This demonstrator in Sydney gave her name as Natalie. I think the government needs to declare this devastating thing that's happening to women as a national emergency. Enough women have died, 26, and it's just, it's really, really upsetting. I think it's, we're human, we shouldn't be getting killed. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also turned out. We really have to make sure that men respect women and that men do not respect other men who disrespect women. So there's a huge role in this for men. They're not just the perpetrators, they're also the friends and relatives, employers, employees, colleagues of men who commit these crimes and they have to be held to account. Similar protests were scheduled across the country through the weekend, with Albanese saying he'd join a rally in Canberra.

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