30th October 2009!

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Artist Tania Summerell has been commissioned to create an installation this year for the Reclaim the Night celebrations. Tania will be creating one of her beautiful ground Mandalas at the front of the Tweed Shire Women's Service.

Mandalas are powerful places of communicative visual symbols, providing a site of integration for community members to gather, reflect and learn. The 'Reclaim the Night mandala' will be comprised of ancient cultural symbols that honour and offer protection and empowerment for women and children. It will be visible throughout the day from 10am and all women and children are encouraged to visit the space and bring a flower to place at the circumference in honour of all women and children worldwide who have been the victims of abuse.

Reclaim the Night is a peaceful protest first organised in Australia in 1978. This international event is designed to raise community awareness of sexual violence against women and children. Women often report feeling stronger, more positive and confident after participating in this women's only event.

Some statistics for your information:
o Kevin Rudd in his keynote speech at the White Ribbon Dinner in September 2009, stated that 1 in 4 children will witness sexual violence perpetrated against their mother.
o 57% of Australian women experience physical or sexual violence during their lives (Amnesty International 2005 Fact Sheet).
o The need for Reclaim The Night is evident in research into the gendered nature of sexual and domestic violence. 57% of Australian women experience physical or sexual violence during their lives (Amnesty International 2005 Fact Sheet). This statistic is 40 times higher for Indigenous women (Vaisutus).
o Sexual violence against women is perpetrated by men in 99% of cases. Young women aged 18 to 24 are at the greatest risk of violence (ABS 1996). These figures indicate the need for prevention of sexual violence toward women and children. Women and children deserve a life free from discrimination and fear.

Tweed Shire Women's Service is dedicated to Reclaim the Night and its aims to;
o protest that many women and children live in fear of male sexual violence
o facilitate discussion and encourage a community response to violence against women and children
o celebrate women's strength and survival in a world where violence happens so often
o work towards a safer society for everyone.

This year, Tweed Shire Womens Service is proud to invite all women in our community to celebrate, encourage and support women and children's basic human rights; to live in freedom from fear of violence and discrimination. By participating, TSWS believes it encourages a community response and helps to facilitate ongoing discussions around this issue.

Date: Friday 30 October 2009
Time: From 10am-4pm
Where: Out the front of Tweed Shire Women's Service office
Cnr Prince & Nullum St
Murwillumbah

Reclaim The Night is organised by women around the world each year to raise community awareness of sexual violence against women and children.

Reclaim The Night represents a claim for women’s and children’s basic human right to live in freedom from discrimination and fear of violence.

The need for Reclaim The Night is evident in research into the gendered nature of sexual and domestic violence. 57% of Australian women experience physical or sexual violence during their lives (Amnesty International 2005 Fact Sheet). This statistic is 40 times higher for Indigenous women (Vaisutus).

Sexual violence against women is perpetrated by men in 99% of cases. Young women aged 18 to 24 are at the greatest risk of violence (ABS 1996). These figures indicate the need for prevention of sexual violence toward women and children. Women and children need to be free from discrimination and fear.

This page will keep you up to date with upcoming Reclaim the Night Celebrations. For information about Reclaim the Night marches in your local area visit www.isis.aust.com/rtn/

Tweed Shire Women’s Service is dedicated to Reclaim the night and its aims to;

  • protest that many women and children live in fear of male sexual violence

  • facilitate discussion and encourage a community response to violence against women and children

  • celebrate women’s strength and survival in a world where violence happens so often

  • work towards a safer society for everyone.

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In recent years TSWS has sent the following demands for action to all levels of government;

  • We demand an end to violence in all its forms.

  • We demand an end to the sexualisation and objectification of women through advertising and the media.

  • We demand the end of the use of images that are sexist because they maintain a culture of rape and abuse.

  • We demand rigorous and thorough policing of internet porn sites and harsher penalties for those who both make and view child pornography.

  • We demand that sports leaders actively work to change a culture of tolerance of sexual violence within their respective codes.

  • We demand that changes are made to the criminal justice system to ensure that victims are well supported and that judicial officers are better trained to understand sexual violence and its impacts.

  • We demand that abortion be decriminalised and women have access to free, safe and legal abortions in Australia.

  • We demand that women with disabilities have equal access to services including, police, health and legal services.

  • We demand all levels of government take active steps towards reconciliation, to address systems abuse of Australia’s Indigenous population.


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