Melton council is calling on residents to stand together in support of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign urging communities to help end violence against women and girls.
The campaign kicks off on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Tuesday 25 November and runs through to Human Rights Day on Wednesday 10 December, aiming to encourage education, reflection and community action to address and prevent gender-based violence.
As part of the 2025 program, council will host a keynote address from leading advocate and writer Tarang Chawla at the Melton Library and Learning Hub on Thursday 27 November, from 1-2pm.
A commissioner with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Mr Chawla founded Not One More Niki in honour of his sister, who was killed in an act of domestic violence in 2015 and has helped shape national conversations around prevention, accountability, and cultural change.
Council will also hold a Walk for inclusion and respect on Wednesday 3 December to coincide with the International Day of People with Disability.
The walk aims to unite residents in a public show of support for inclusion and respect, while highlighting the interconnected issues of gender and disability based discrimination.
Participants will set off from Hannah Watts Park at 9.30am, before making their way to the Melton Town Centre Amphitheatre for a community gathering.
Melton mayor Lara Carll said everyone in the community has a role to play in putting an end to violence.
“Everyone has a role to play in putting an end to gender-based violence in our community and creating a respectful and supportive culture, free from violence against women,” she said.
“Everyone in our community has the right to feel that they can go about their lives feeling safe and valued.”
Registrations for the keynote and details about the community walk are available via: https://tinyurl.com/4vs87k2y
Anyone experiencing or at risk of family violence can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit the service’s website. In an emergency, always call triple-0.
