Australia is grappling with a devastating epidemic of violence against women, with 26 women allegedly murdered by male perpetrators in the 16 weeks since January 1, according to the Counting Dead Women project. Eleven of these tragic deaths have occurred within the last 24 days alone. This relentless onslaught of violence has ignited outrage and demands for urgent action from the government and society as a whole.
At the core of this epidemic lies a pervasive culture of disrespect towards women that permeates every aspect of our society. Disrespect is insidious, manifesting in myriad ways, from casual sexism and harassment to the most extreme forms of physical and sexual violence. Disrespect is not limited to gender-based violence; it can be seen in the way children disregard their teachers, civilians abuse police officers, colleagues harass each other in the workplace, and society neglects and demeans its elderly.
Disrespect is the toxic seed from which violence grows. We create a permissive environment for more severe harm when we tolerate or normalise disrespectful attitudes and behaviours.
When disrespect is left unchecked, it can escalate into verbal abuse, physical aggression, and, ultimately, lethal violence. It is a progression that starts with words and ends with lives shattered or lost. In the context of violence against women, this progression is enabled by a culture that objectifies women, excuses male aggression and fails to hold perpetrators accountable.
For decades, advocates, survivors and specialised services have been tirelessly fighting to combat violence against women. Locally, organisations like the Zonta Club of Bundaberg, established over 30 years ago, have been at the forefront of advocating for a better world for women and girls. Zonta’s annual 16 Days of Activism campaign is a sombre reminder of the lives lost, with the tolling of church bells for each woman killed in the preceding year. Heartbreakingly, the number of tolls keeps rising year after year.
The increasing death toll is a damning indictment of our collective failure to sufficiently prioritise this issue. We must heed the call of those who have been in this fight for so long. It's time to amplify their voices, honour the victims and redouble our efforts to build a society of respect, equality, and non-violence.
Tackling this epidemic requires a multi-pronged approach that addresses both the immediate crisis and the underlying culture of disrespect. It demands urgent reforms to our legal system to better protect women and punish offenders. This includes nationally consistent laws that recognise all forms of gendered violence, improved policing and court processes and more substantial penalties that reflect the severity of these crimes.
However, legal reforms alone are insufficient. We must also heavily invest in prevention, education, and support services. This means funding programs that promote respectful relationships and challenge toxic masculinity from an early age. It means providing comprehensive support for survivors, including safe housing, legal assistance and trauma-informed care.
Addressing violence against women requires the commitment and action of every member of society. We all have a duty to treat each other respectfully and stand up against disrespect when we see it. This is particularly true for men, who must take responsibility for modelling respect towards women and challenging their peers' harmful attitudes and behaviours.
This duty extends beyond our personal interactions and into the public sphere. We must demand more from our leaders and institutions. Glossy policy documents and action plans are insufficient - we need concrete, properly funded implementation and clear accountability measures. We must centre the voices of survivors in all decision-making and ensure that our responses are informed by their experiences and needs.
Change starts with each of us - in our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. It begins with a simple but powerful commitment to respect: respect for women, each other and the inviolable human dignity of every person.
By sowing these seeds of respect and working tirelessly to uproot the weeds of disrespect and violence, we can hope to build a safer, more just Australia. An Australia where every woman can live free from fear and where every person is valued, respected, and protected. We owe it to the countless women who have lost their lives, to the survivors who bear the scars and to the generations to come.