Nation To Rally Against Femicide Crisis This Weekend

Thousands will take to streets across the country this weekend to rally against Australia’s femicide epidemic.

In 2024, journalist Sherele Moody counted 103 women and 16 children killed by violence.

Moody has spent the last decade tracking and documenting the Australian woman and children lost to violence through the Australian Femicide Watch and Red Heart Campaign. Although her work is self-funded, her years of dedication have made her a key source for real-time data, and her work is often referenced by politicians and media.

She’s now organising a national day of action to bring attention to what she says is a national emergency.

“It’s about urging women to take up more space. Get angry, get loud, have a voice,” said one of the organisers for the Sydney rallky, Eva Akyol.

“We need to get people to understand just how severe the femicide epidemic is in Australia, and to call them to take action, to step in before it gets to the point where abusers and perpetrators are created.”

At the time of publication, 14 women and 2 children have been killed since January 1 2025. It’s likely that this number will be higher by the time the rallies begin.

Over a dozen She Matters Rallies are being held in every state and territory, with organisers demanding more funding for the sexual and gendered violence sector, and the creation of better legal and political frameworks.

“In Sydney, we’re asking for three specific demands,” Akyol says. “Reform at the school level, DVO and AVO reform, and better funding for immediate crisis relief.”

Speakers with knowledge and lived experience of sexual and gendered violence will have a chance to tell the state and federal leaders what their communities need.

“A lot of thought went into the speaker selection,” Akyol says.

“We really, really want to emphasise the voices of marginalised women, because a lot of the deaths that we get reported on are the deaths of white women. Lot of the marginalised voices just get lost and they remain nameless.”

The rally will not only provide a space for action, but it will also give communities somewhere to mourn and honour those who lost their lives to violence. Attendees are encouraged to bring flowers and electric candles.

Although it’s mostly women who attend rallies on gendered violence, organisers know that the responsibility for real change lies with men and boys, and Akyol is calling for allies to step up and make a difference.

“I’ve got a lot of friends that don’t come to rallies, and it’s not because they’re bad people. It’s because it is really confronting to be in a collective space of so much pain and so much power,” she says.

“If you do come as a first timer, you will see why we go to rallies in the first place… it is a welcoming, peaceful space. So I do urge women that haven’t been to come along, because that’s why we’re there. We’re there to support them and to make them feel like they’re not alone in their care for this.

“You’re here for a reason. You’re here because you’ve experienced this for some capacity, and your voice matters.”

She Matters Rallies, Saturday 15 March

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.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Beyond Blue 1300 224 636, or Lifeline 131 114.

The men’s referral service which offers assistance, information, and counselling to help men who use family violence can be contacted on 1300 766 491.