The voices of domestic violence victims will be heard loud and clear at the Reclaim the Night walk at Warners Bay later this week.
The global movement, which strives to give women a voice and a chance to reclaim the streets at night, will take place at 6pm Friday 28 October along the Warners Bay Foreshore.
Heal for Life Founder Liz Mullinar AM said she was delighted be a guest speaker at the event.
“For me, Reclaim the Night stands for women and kids being able to reclaim their lives and heal,” Ms Mullinar said.
“I founded Heal for Life, because I am a survivor of child sexual assault and there were no services to understand our needs for healing.”
“And the demand for the Health for Life service grows and grows.”
Ms Mullinar will be joined by local students, who will talk about their experience with a program known as ‘Love Bites’, which educates teenagers about how to prevent domestic violence.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said men were encouraged to take part in the walk, alongside women and children.
“Society needs to recognise that everyone – men and women – should be part of the solution,” Cr Fraser said.
“This is all about raising awareness for those in need, by raising awareness within our community and bringing everyone together.
” The first Reclaim the Night rally was held in Belgium in 1976 by women attending the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women.
They held candles and marched to protest the ways violence permeates the lives of women globally.
Australia’s first Reclaim the Night rally was held in 1978 and continues as an annual event, demanding an acceptable response to violence against women in our community and worldwide.
The Warners Bay event starts on Friday evening with a free barbecue and live music at 6pm.
The event is being hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council and the Domestic Violence Committee, made up of representatives from NOVA for Women, East Lakes Family Support Services, and CALM.
