IT can only be hoped that the events of the past few days - and weeks - have prompted every man across Australia to reflect on how the women of our country are feeling right now.
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As Liv Croft told the Newcastle Herald at Monday's March 4 Justice: "We're tired of having to protect ourselves from the moment we step outside the door. We are exhausted and this has to stop."
In 2021 - more than 50 years after Neil Armstrong took that one giant leap for "mankind" - it's almost unbelievable that women in a civilised country would have to speak those words.
It's more than unbelievable, it's a disgrace.
It's time for the men of our country, and our government, to truly listen to the experiences of victims and set about taking meaningful action to ensure women feel greater protection.
Liv Croft was one of more than 15 women who shared stories of sexual assault and discrimination at the Newcastle March 4 Justice in Civic Park on Monday, which was attended by up to 2500 people. The event emerged in response to the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, the historic rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter and Sydney schoolgirl Chanel Contos' gathering of testimonies of harassment and sexual assault.
If there were any men in the Hunter who had any doubts about the legitimacy of Monday's March 4 Justice, the revelation in Thursday's Newcastle Herald that there has been a record number of reported sexual assaults in the region last year should serve as a wake-up call.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics figures show 849 sexual assault reports to Hunter police in 2020, up from 754 the previous year. The number of reported sexual assaults in the region has risen about 10 per cent a year from 577 five years ago.
BOCSAR reported that sexual assault was the only major offence to show a significant upward trend in the past two years, rising 10 per cent across the state year on year.
It's unclear if the rises were due to more assaults occurring or victims being more willing to file formal complaints. Clearly it's positive that more brave victims are going to the police.
But this rising trend of cases must be stopped and reversed. And it's up to the men of this country - every single one - to act, and end this national disgrace.
It's time.
