MARCH 4 JUSTICE
The past few weeks have carried out an immense political and social significance for women all around the world. We have all witnessed what has been happening in Poland due to the "women's hell" or recently in the United Kingdom, particularly in London, where hundreds of people gather and pay tribute to tragically murdered Sarah Everard. As the icing on the cake it is worth mentioning massive global events that took place on the International Women’s Day. Female voices are being heard in the various countries – from Spain or Germany, across Turkey, Pakistan and Kyrgyz Republic, to the Indonesian capital Jakarta and Bangladesh, call for the common motto - “equality”. It shows how, despite the concerns about the coronavirus, protests have been widespread and well-attended.
Although an awareness of discrimination against women has recently risen on such a big scale, the issue of gender inequality is unfortunately still relevant. Therefore, let me direct your attention to the Australian March 4 Justice.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Thousands of people have turned out to marches across major Australian cities, demanding gender equality and justice for the victims of sexual assault while also protesting against the sexual abuse and harassment of women in the country. A number of participants had black masks on their faces, with the words: “Enough is Enough.” Others carried placards decrying misogyny, victim-blaming, abuse and rape. In Melbourne, a banner listed nearly 1000 women who have lost their lives at the hands of men since 2008.
WHAT IS THE REASON?
According to World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report in 2020, Australia was ranked 44th, being far behind other Western countries on gender issues.
The rallies have been sparked by allegations of sexual assault, misconduct and discrimination in some of the country's highest political offices. The protests started after Attorney General was recognized as the subject of a 1988 rape allegation - which he denies. Moreover, there is a separate case of Brittany Higgins, a former staff member and political adviser, who was raped in a minister's office in 2019.
Being described as the “biggest uprising of women that Australia's seen", its organisers started to act as efficient as possible and presented a petition with over 90,000 signatures to the Government. Most importantly it called for a full independent investigations into all cases of gendered violence, public accountability for findings and the enactment of a federal Gender Equality Act to promote gender equality.
However, despite all numerous attempts to establish a dialog , the Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to meet the protesters and was forced to defend his decision in parliament. Instead of it, he had invited a delegation to meet with him in Parliament House but protest organisers declined, arguing that he and the government's minister for women should meet with them at the rally. "We have already come to the front door, now it's up to the Government to cross the threshold and come to us. We will not be meeting behind closed doors," tweeted march organiser Janine Hendry.
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
As the organisers and participants point out March 4 Justice is more than just a simple and local social undertaking. They highlight:
“we begin with this march, this is the first step, March 4 Justice will not end, we will be heard, we will make a change. We March 4 Justice, we march peacefully, we march united.”
The main aim of the protesters is not limited only to the Australia. They come amid a growing global movement demanding officials to do more to protect women and to hold perpetrators of harassment and assaults accountable.
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