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“Reclaim the Night Sydney will be held at Hyde Park on the 31st October 2014. Reclaim the Night is a global annual protest against gendered violence traditionally held on the last Friday in October each year.

At 6.30pm we will rally, listening to a variety of women speaking on issues from the closures of women’s-only refuges to the rising prevalence of street harrassment (speakers TBA!)

Then we will RECLAIM THE NIGHT, marching through the CBD to raise awareness of the issues facing women in 2014 and make our voices heard.

All are welcome. Gendered violence is not a ‘women’s issue’, it is a human rights issue that requires everyone’s participation. We need to all commit to take action against all forms of violence and discrimination faced by women and girls.

DATE: Friday 31st October
TIME: 6.30PM
PLACE: Hyde Park North

We can make a difference, but we need to do it together.

*We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this event is taking place, the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and pay respect to their Elders and families*”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/350039681824271/

This year, Reclaim the Night in Canberra will be hosted by the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

Location: Garema Place, Canberra
Date: Friday the 31st of October
Time: 6:00pm

This years focus is “Reclaiming our Space.”

Reclaim the Night is a community event that has been held in Canberra for many years. It began as an angry protest against messages women were given by police to stay indoors so as to not be sexually assaulted or murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper (a murderer and rapist in Leeds). News quickly spread and soon Reclaim the Night marches were happening in diverse countries across the world. These days it is a community event to symbolize everyone’s right to be safe in our community.

It is also part of a global movement to raise awareness about sexual assault and its impacts on the community and women, children, young people, families and men. Sexual violence impacts on 1 in three girls and 1 in six boys before the age of 18. 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted across their adult lifetimes. This can result in a long term legacy of shame, silence and self blame for survivors. These impacts can be challenged by increasing our understanding of sexual assault trauma and the harm it can do to people and communities.

Sexual violence also has tremendous impacts on our community through the enormous cost of untreated trauma on our economy. By 2020 the cost of violence against women in Australia is set to top 15.6 billion dollars. International trauma experts predict that the health burden of untreated trauma will soon overtake heart disease and obesity as the largest issue for governments and communities to respond to.

Survivors of sexual violence(particularly child sexual assault) are over represented in all of our systems at rates of 90% for women, and 70% for men. These systems include mental health, prisons, homelessness services, drug and alcohol services.

We hope you can join us to continue to raise awareness about this very important issue.

“31 October 2014: Women unite, reclaim the night! Not Silent ! Not Violent ! My little black dress does not mean yes!

Despite the massive advances in equality the women’s movement has brought us, one issue where the statistics never seem to change is that of sexual violence. 1 in 3 women will experience sexual violence in her life, and while abhorrent these statistics aren’t surprising when we live in a culture that so brutally objectifies and dehumanises women. This level of violence is an epidemic and it has to stop. We need a government that will fully fund all services related to the issue, from shelters and counseling services to proper consent education and support for vulnerable women.

But it won’t just be handed to us. The history of the women’s movement has shown we have to make demands and fight for every advance. Violence and the oppression of women are not inherent to human nature, they absolutely can be stopped. But we need strength in numbers to combat such an overwhelming issue. With all eyes on Brisbane for the G20 – Let’s make the people who can impact these issues stand up and take notice of such an important yet rarely spoken about topic. No one likes talking about sexual violence – but it starts by having the courage to challenge the culture around you and speaking out.

So come along to Reclaim the Night 2014, bring your placards, noisemakers, banners, friends and most of all your VOICE. Together we will fight and together we can win!

Reclaim the Night will start at Emma Miller Place (located off Roma St) with a rally at 5pm, before marching over Kurilpa Bridge to Kurilpa Park where we will have more speakers and hold a vigil for those lost to gendered violence. We will also be selling cold drinks and tshirts at Kurilpa Park.”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/309797525895764/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular