University of Newcastle's Gender Research Network launches 16 days of activism to end violence against women

The series will begin with a public vigil today at 6.30pm at Newcastle Museum which will include a minute of silence to remember the victims of gendered violence, as well as 15 seconds of screaming.

"People are familiar with the minute of silence being held for women in our society who are murdered," Associate Professor Trisha Pender, the leader of the network, said. "It happens so often it's familiar. The scream is to wake people up and say this is not acceptable and has never been acceptable and we're really angry this is not getting the attention it deserves."

The vigil will also include a musical performance by Anousha Victoire, a dance performance and speeches from community organisations.

A free symposium on strategies for a safer city will take place at NeW Space on Friday, combining perspectives from researchers and service providers.

A public talk is scheduled for the evening of Monday, December 9, featuring MP Linda Burney and award-winning journalist Jess Hill, who is the author of See What You Made Me Do, and Dr Nafiseh Ghafournia, a sociologist and author of Faith in Freedom: Muslim Immigrant Women's Experiences of Domestic Violence.

Associate Professor Pender said the Gender Research Network was hoping to give momentum to the task of ending violence against women.

"We decided to focus on this year making the events really publicly accessible and trying to get as many people, groups and organisations to come along," she said.

"We're seeing if we can bring people together to build some momentum about these issues rather than feeling hopeless in the face of horrible statistics."

The final session of the symposium this Friday will collect ideas for solutions the university can then research.

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