Blue Mountains News

At the event, Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill paid tribute to family, domestic and sexual violence support workers, and called on the community to support the 16 Days of Activism to end gendered violence.

“We pay our utmost respect to the dedicated staff and volunteers within the support sector nationally and particularly to those working to keep women and children safe within the Blue Mountains community,” Cr Greenhill said.

In his speech, Cr Greenhill spoke of the need to proactively address the cause of violence against women and children, “The single proven reason for men’s violence against women is gender inequality.

“It is not enough that you are not a perpetrator of violence yourself. Men need to speak up. Men need to stand up. Because if men don’t change, nothing will change, and women will continue to be killed.

“Today, we begin our annual 16 Days of Activism campaign. Sixteen opportunities for the Blue Mountains community to act against gendered violence, 16 chances to create a safer, brighter future for women and children, and to challenge us to create change.

“I thank all of you for supporting our work on this vitally import issue, and for supporting each other. We will only end gendered violence if we all work together.”

The program was emceed by Angelique Sasagi, manager of the Blue Mountains Women's Health and Resource Centre. Speakers included EViE (Ending Violence improving Equality) youth advisory members and activists, a Katoomba High School student, DV West, and a victim-survivor who courageously shared her lived experience.

Present were Blue Mountains City Council Councillors and staff, members of Council’s Domestic and Family Violence Mayoral Advisory Committee, Blue Mountains Police Area Command, students and staff from Blaxland, Katoomba, Springwood and Winmalee High Schools, members of family, domestic and sexual violence support services, and people with lived experience of gendered violence.

The Mayoral Breakfast is the start of council’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, which features a calendar of community events that promote an end to violence against women and children.

Held at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Springwood, the annual Mayoral Breakfast is a partnership event between Blue Mountains City Council and the Coalition Against Violence and Abuse (CAVA) and is the first event in the 16 Days of Activism calendar.

Beginning on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual United Nations international campaign, that ends on December 10, Human Rights Day.

The UN’s 2024 theme, #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women, reflects that every 10 minutes partners and family members killed a woman intentionally in 2023.

Australian data shows that intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor, with men more commonly the perpetrators of physical violence, sexual harassment and sexual violence (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Council continues to work towards our goal of an inclusive and gender equitable city through our Domestic and Family Violence Mayoral Advisory Committee, enacting our Gender Equity Strategy, supporting the exceptional work our Blue Mountains community service organisations do, through our 16 Days of Activism campaign and by supporting important community events like Reclaim the Night.

For more information and to join a 16 Days of Activism event, visit here