Enough is enough. Women deserve better.

The Uniting Church stands in support of rallies across the country speaking up against violence against women

Image: via the What Were you Wearing Facebook Page

The Uniting Church stands in solidarity with all those demanding greater action on the nation's violence against women crisis.  Thousands joined protests across the country this weekend, including 15,000 people in Melbourne, 10,000 in Sydney, and thousands more in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Ballarat and other cities and towns. The resounding call of these rallies was: enough is enough. Women deserve better than violence and abuse.

In 2018, the 15th Assembly resolved to reaffirm the Uniting Church's commitment to ending gender-based violence. Despite years of advocacy, the scourge of brutality against women and children has intensified in 2024, with at least 27 women - on average one every four days - having lost their lives to male violence already this year.

The advocacy group, What Were You Wearing, organised the rallies to call for greater, urgent action to save women's lives. In response, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared gender-based violence a national crisis. 

Protestors called for reforms to be enacted by governments and the media, including access to alternative reporting options for victims of violence, sustainable funding for organisations on the frontline of preventing violence against women and supporing survivors. 

The Uniting Church laments all violence against women and grieves victims of violence in recent weeks, including those killed in the Westfield Bondi Junction attacks, the violent deaths of three women in Ballarat, Victoria, and the murder of a young mother in regional NSW, allegedly at the hands of her former partner. Only just this week, a 19-year-old woman has been found dead in an apartment in North Bondi in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The Assembly resolution recognises certain theologies have justified inequality and violence. Our churches, like the rest of society, must grapple with how we are complicit in harm to prevent violence before it occurs and assist victims in healing.

"It is important for the church to be clear in repudiating violence, to express God’s desire for life-giving mutually respectful relationships, homes and communities, where all people can flourish, and to educate our members about the reality of violence and how they can respond to point people to support, resources and care."

You can read the resolution from the 15th Assembly here and access the Assembly's Beyond Violence resource here. The Assembly's key resource on domestic and family violence, Beyond Violence seeks to empower the Uniting Church to reflect theologically, understand the UCA's commitments, pray and respond.

If you or someone you know is at risk of or experiencing violence, reach out to the following helplines.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.

Domestic and family violence services

• 1800 RESPECT National Helpline: 1800 737 732
• Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
• Women’s Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
• DV Connect or call 1800 600 636
• Mensline Australia: 1300 78 99 78
• Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491