Women take to the streets on Reclaim the Night

Reclaim the Night marches were held around the country on October 26 and 27 to protest against violence against women. In Perth, Virginia Brown reports that around 300 women and children gathered in Russell Square. Christabel Chamarette talked about the discrimination faced by older women, and another speaker focussed on the failure of governments to provide a safe space for children who had been sexually abused. The march around Northbridge was joined by another 300 women, and support was shown from women and men lining the route who chanted along with the marchers. In Newcastle, Kamala Emanuel reports that over 250 women marched. Speakers at the rally included Angie Geoffs, who was at the first Reclaim the Night march in Leeds in the late '70s. Geoffs told the protesters how, at that time, a number of attacks were taking place, and women were being advised to stay at home. Today, women have more freedom of movement, but still fear walking alone at night. Juliette Hollingsworth, a court support worker for victims of domestic violence, also addressed the rally, along with Christine Palmer, a survivor of domestic violence, who spoke positively of her survival after leaving an abusive relationship. Janet MacLean reported from the Beijing women's conference and stressed the importance of campaigning for justice for women. Kamala Emanuel spoke about the recent partial victory in overturning Justice Newman's decision on abortion, and the importance of working together to bring about change. A men's support action cheered the marchers on, and the night ended with a concert of women artists, at which messages of solidarity from other collectives were read. The Reclaim the Night collective gathered names of women who want to be involved in organising International Women's Day next year. To get involved, call Linda (263 023) or Kamala (265 328). From Hobart, Rebecca Meckleburg reports that 250 women, men and children took part in a spirited march from parliament gardens through the city. Speakers at the rally included a representative from Amnesty International who cited the use of rape as a form of torture in war in Bosnia, Nepal and Iraq. Many women are raped for being politically active, or because their fathers, husbands and sons are politically active. A spokesperson from Women's International League for Peace and Freedom highlighted the enormous resources worldwide that are committed to the war machine, including nuclear testing. Many young women attended the march and rally, and the theme, "zero tolerance", focused on the need for an active movement which does not tolerate abuses of women's rights. From Sydney, Marika Wilson reports that this year's rally with the theme "Freedom from sexual violence, a basic human right" was attended by 5000 women and children. Aboriginal and disabled women led the lively march through the city centre. Speakers at the rally included Pam Greer from the Aboriginal and Legal Resource Centre, Darlene Corey an incest survivor and RTN collective member, and women from the Clothesline Project, a campaign highlighting the prevalence of sexual abuse. Young women turned out in force, and non-English speaking background women were also well represented. Men were asked to show their solidarity for the march and to join groups such as Men Against Sexual Assault, to help end sexual violence. The rally finished at Circular Quay, where a concert was held with women performers. From Brisbane Ana Kailis reports that 800 women and children marched. Speakers included representatives from the Rape and Incest Crisis Centre, the Murri community, the Democratic Socialist Party and the National Union of Guatemalan Women. Some of the demands raised were: a fully funded 24-hour rape crisis line; that state and federal governments fund community support services; free safe and legal abortion on demand; self-determination for indigenous women; reform of the legal system which currently discriminates against women and children; the decriminalisation of prostitution; and primary and secondary school curriculums to include gender and violence education. а ° Ð‚ÓOZÓÑ q}@ ÑIn Canberra, 250 women marched and chanted through Civic. Speakers represented the Rape Crisis Centre, the Koori community, the ANU Campaign Against Sexual Assault and Resistance. Entertainment was provided by the Latin American women's band, Machitun. In Melbourne, Susan Price reports that 3000 women, a large proportion of them young, joined a lively march through the city centre to Alexandra Park. The rally at Parliament House was addressed by feminist lawyer and author, Jocelyn Scutt; domestic violence support worker, Maria Dimopoulas; and RTN collective member and rape survivor, Michelle Pearce. From Darwin, Deb Sorensen reports that more than 100 women gathered at the Town Hall ruins in the city to join the march against violence against women In Adelaide, Philippa Stanford reports that 1000 very spirited women marched from Victoria Square to Parliament House where a number of speakers addressed the crowd. Men Against Sexual Assault, Resistance and Democratic Socialist Party men supported the march with their banners and were given rousing cheers.Ð ÈРРа ° ÐÒT 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 T҂ÓOZÓÑ q}@ Ñ From Wollongong, Freya Pinney reports that over 200 women and children took to the streets on October 26 in the city's first Reclaim the Night march. The march, from South Beach to the mall, was followed by a rally, and ended in a spontaneous dance party. Pleased with the turnout, RTN collective spokesperson and Resistance organiser, Nikki Ulasowski told Green Left Weekly that the Reclaim the Night organising collective had been initiated just five weeks ago. "There have been a number of rapes, sexual assaults and abductions of women in the local area in the last few years. That, coupled with the Illawarra recently being named as having the highest rate of domestic violence of all NSW regional areas, led to the beginning of what will hopefully become a long tradition of Reclaim the Night marches here." Speakers at the rally included Janne Ellen from the Wollongong Women's Centre; Billy Gardiner from WISH; Ziynette Cuscin from the Turkish community; Megan Chisholm, Wollongong university student council's women's officer-elect; and Sarah Gadd, a local high school student from Resistance. A common theme of the speeches was the need for an active and independent women's movement to combat violence in the community and fight for women's liberation.