Women rallied across Australia on October 27 to "Reclaim the Night" and protest against violence against women.
In Sydney, Lauren Carroll Harris reports, 1000 women and children assembled in Hyde Park for the rally, which was kicked off with a rocking rendition of Helen Reddy's "I am Woman", performed by the Older Women's Network. Many women told their personal stories of surviving sexual violence.
Then, chanting "Not the church, not the state, women must decide our fate", the crowd marched to Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, cheered on by some supportive men lining the route. Performers at the part included Full Circle, the Women's Drumming Circle, Jan Preston, Jonah's Pride and ThreeSM.
In Rockhampton, says Erin Cameron, 150 people marched boisterously through the streets of the city, clapping, chanting and cheering, in the most successful Reclaim the Night yet held there.
More than 400 people had earlier heard speakers from the Sexual Assault Program, the Women's Health Centre and the Reclaim the Night committee. Local performers kept people entertained until well into the night.
Reclaim the Night has special significance in Rockhampton because four women and one young girl have disappeared from the city in the last five years. Two of them were later found murdered.
In Lismore, Nick Fredman reports, 150 women led by a giant "goddess" lantern took over the town in a lively march, and were greeted by several groups of male supporters with banners.
Feminist activist and researcher Keirryn Davis told the crowd about the widespread problems of domestic violence in small town and rural areas such as northern NSW, while Kath O'Driscoll of the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) spoke of the need for solidarity against the growing oppression of women around the world.
Southern Cross University Student Representative Council women's officer Nikki Sullings attacked the Howard government's changes to the Sex Discrimination Act aimed at denying lesbians and single mothers IVF treatment. Megan White-Fox from Resistance urged those present to get involved in building International Women's Day 2001 and the anti-corporate protests on May 1.
From Geelong, Bronwyn Jennings reports that 150 women marched through the streets to assert "Women's rights are human rights". The rally cheered as international greetings were read out from the Socialist Party of the Philippines demanding an end to the corporate greed that impoverishes women.
From Darwin, Peter Johnston reports that the 150 women gathered for Reclaim the Night heard feminist Janice Crerar condemn the attitude that women who are sexually assaulted bring it upon themselves by the way they dress or by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A march was followed by a women-only dance.
In Canberra, reports Keara Courtney, a young survivor of sexual abuse, Darra, told the 250-strong march that sexual violence is aided by silence. Public actions, like Reclaim the Night, are needed to "break the cycle, to begin to heal and to resist", she said. Gipsy Hosking shared her experience of reclaiming sports ovals to allow women to participate in sport. "Sexist, racist, anti-gay, you can't take our night away", the crowd chanted.
Young women were prominent in the rally and march, chanting from megaphones and speaking on the platform.
In Brisbane, Pam Currie reports, 2000 women and children took to the streets in a colourful and noisy march ending in the annual festival at West End. This year's theme was "Sexual violence is a weapon — Stop the war against women".
Bonnie, an Aboriginal woman and activist, spoke out against the abuse in Aboriginal communities and the reluctance by the communities to take action against the perpetrators. Deb, a prisoners' rights activist with Sisters Inside, told of "sexual assault by the state" — 89% of women in prison were sexually abused in their youth, she claimed.
Ji-Eun Li, a Resistance member from South Korea, spoke of the economic violence being perpetrated against women in her home country since the International Monetary Fund's restructuring program began in 1998. Women workers have been the first to lose their jobs, she said.
In Melbourne, Justine Kamprad reports, 700 women and men held a vibrant rally in freezing and wet weather outside the State Library. The theme was "Stop Global Violence Against Women".
The protest demanded: that the Australian government sign the optional protocol on the UN Convention to End all Forms of Discrimination Against Women; that Australia open its borders and free the refugees; and for an end to the trafficking of women.
The rally was followed by a women-only march during which "Yes means yes, no means no, however we're dressed, wherever we go" was chanted with vigour along with anti-Nike chants. A representative from the Centre Against Sexual Assault spoke about the lack of government funding for women's services. A Worker-Communist Party of Iraq speaker described the terrible conditions for women in Iraq and the need to fight for refugee rights in Australia. The Global Sisterhood Network's Lynette Dumble attributed the increasing trafficking of women to the worsening economic plight of Third World women.
Pamela Kerr from FairWear implored people to continue to pressure the Coalition parties to implement the outworker code of practice legislation in Victoria.
Rachel Evans from the DSP linked the Labor and Liberal parties' attacks on single women and lesbians to the push to reassert women's traditional roles in the home. The slogan "No women's liberation without revolution, no revolution without women's liberation" received a hearty cheer.
In Wollongong, Bronwyn Powell reports, 70 women marched. Jan Ellen Swift spoke about the crime of rape, while Margaret Perrott from the DSP spoke of the need for solidarity with women facing violence across the globe.