Media release – She Matters, 12 March 2025

14 She Matters Stop Killing Women Rallies scheduled for Saturday March 15, 2025

As of today, 117 Australian women have been killed, most by men they know, in just 14.5 months. We have lost 14 women this year and we lost 103 women last year.

Violence against women is an epidemic and it’s one our leaders don’t want to accept.

PM Anthony Albanese is declining invitations to honour the killed women at any of the 14 She Matters rallies across Australia on Saturday (March 15).

Rallies will be held in Alice Springs, Adelaide, Bendigo, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Orange, Perth, Port Macquarie, Roebourne and Sydney.

The She Matters rallies are happening nationwide as a direct and much-needed response to Australia’s ongoing femicide epidemic.

Protestors will demand meaningful action from our political leaders to protect women around Australia from all forms of violence.

Speakers across the country include survivors of violence and families impacted by femicide as well as frontline workers.

The rallies will call on:

  • All governments roll out meaningful policy designed to protect women and girls and to stop us from falling through safety nets. This must cover women from marginalised and diverse backgrounds including black women, multicultural women, trans and gender diverse women, queer women, with disability / chronic illness, neuro-diverse women and queer women.
  • All governments boost women’s safety budgets in line with need. Budgets are falling way short of violence levels and many women are being maimed or hospitalised because there’s not enough support or services to keep them safe.
  • Ethical victim-focused trauma informed media reporting of killed women and girls.
  • Men become key contributors to ending gendered violence. Gendered violence is a male problem to solve. Women are sick of picking up the pieces and we will no longer stand by while men refuse to be part of the solution to a problem caused by their peers.

RALLY LOCATIONS AND TIMES

❤️ADELAIDE / TARNTANYA: 11AM-2PM, rally at Parliament Steps, North Terrace.

❤️ALICE SPRINGS MPARNTWE: 10AM, rally Ground of Reflection, Alice Springs Court House green.

❤️BENDIGO / DJA DJA WURRUNG: 11AM-1PM, gather near Rosiland Park Piazza, Cnr View and High Streets.

❤️BRISBANE / MAGAN-DJIN: 11AM-3PM, 415 George Street, with assembly at the green next to the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

❤️CANBERRA / NGUNNAWAL: 12PM-2PM, rally at Parliament House.

❤️GEELONG / DJILANG: From 10.30am, gather at Market Square Mall, Little Malop Street.

❤️HOBART / NIPALUNA: 11AM-12PM, rally at Franklin Square.

❤️MELBOURNE / NAARM: 11.30AM-2.30PM, rally at Victoria State Parliament Steps.

❤️NEWCASTLE / MULUBINBA: 11AM-3PM, rally at Civic Park, King Street.

❤️ORANGE / WIRADJURI: 12PM-2PM, rally at Cook Park.

❤️PERTH / BOORLOO: 12PM-2PM, march and rally from Forrest Place, CBD

❤️PORT MACQUARIE / GURUK: 11AM-1.30PM, March from Town Green, Horton Street; rally at Town Beach Amphitheatre, Alban Place

❤️ROEBOURNE / YIRRAMAGARDU: 8AM, rally in Roe Street (main street), Roebourne, WA

❤️SYDNEY / GADIGAL: 11AM-12PM, gather at Anzac Day Memorial, Hyde Park.

“One woman killed is one too many – 116 in 14 months is Australia’s shame, an epidemic and clear and disturbing evidence of violence increasing in our society.

“I predict the number of women lost to violence will climb this year and continue increasing as we see violent and misogynistic men platformed and normalised.

“We deserve to live life safe from violence, harassment and abuse – it’s time to change the story.”

Every woman killed since January 1, 2024 will be honoured and commemorated at the rallies and their deaths will serve as a powerful reminder of the need for systemic change.

“They will also serve as a critical push for change as we approach the 2025 federal election,” Sherele said.

“We will continue pressuring political candidates and parties to take a stand against femicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, and all forms of gender-based violence.

“The goal is to unite all Australians in the fight to end misogyny and ensure safety for every woman, everywhere.”

LINKS

The Memorial to Women and Children Lost to Violence: https://australianfemicidewatch.org/

The Australian Femicide & Child Death Map: https://t.co/RDVGgeLKBq

SUPPORT

Donate: https://australianfemicidewatch.org/support/

Buy a tee: https://australianfemicidewatch.org/shop/