Ahead of International Women’s Day (Tuesday 8th March) an alliance of high-profile Australian women advocates have launched the ‘Safety. Respect. Equity’ campaign with a powerful video – calling for ‘real action’ through policy reforms to better protect women and children across the country to decrease violence, discrimination and harassment.
The campaign outlines clear actions necessary to reduce gendered violence, and invites all Australians to join them to demand these changes. They are:
- Preventing sexual harassment and bullying (implement all 55 recommendations in the Respect@Work report including a positive duty on employers.)
- 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.
- Acting on the National Plan for First Nations Women and Girls (Support & fund the 7 recommendations in the 2020 Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report)
- Ensuring effective employment programs for women with disability.
- Stronger, consistent child sexual assault laws.
- Eliminating the gender pay gap including necessary legal reform.
- Free, accessible and quality early childhood education and care.
- Expanding paid parental leave.
- Embedding respectful relationships and consent education everywhere including schools, universities, workplaces and homes.
The alliance is comprised of:
- Grace Tame — 2021 Australian Of The Year and advocate against child sexual abuse
- Brittany Higgins — Launched an investigation into parliament’s workplace culture after coming forward with rape allegations and sparked #March4Justice 2020
- Chanel Contos — Founder of Teach Us Consent and has since achieved mandatory consent education in all Australian schools in 2023
- Yasmin Poole — public speaker, board director and youth advocate pushing for young people to have more of a say in Australian politics
- Georgie Dent — Executive Director of The Parenthood, author and advocate for women’s empowerment and gender equality
- Christine Holgate — Former Australia Post Chief Executive who came forward with her experience of workplace bullying
- Madison de Rozario — Paralympic gold medallist and disability advocate
- Julia Banks — Former Liberal MP who has spoken out about the toxic culture of Australian politics, and being sexually harassed
- Lucy Hughes Turnbull — Australian businesswoman and philanthropist
- Michele O’Neil — President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
- Wendy McCarthy — Businesswoman and social activist
- Larissa Behrendt — Indigenous rights advocate, academic and filmmaker.