Community to get behind 16 Days in WA South West events in stand against family and domestic violence

South West community groups and organisations are set to band together to tackle family and domestic violence for this year’s 16 Days in WA campaign. According to campaign organisers, more than 90 individuals across about 30 groups have collaborated for this year’s events which will run from November 25 till December 10. 16 Days in WA South West Alliance founding member Robyn Wilson said the organisation’s goal of eliminating gender-based violence was lofty, but necessary. “Too many women and children are subjected to family and domestic violence, but we can change this when we play our part,” she said. “Ending family and domestic violence altogether may seem like an ambitious aim, but that is our intent. “Even one person bearing the emotional or physical scars from this scourge is one person too many. It is unacceptable for anyone to be harmed unnecessarily by another.” A number of events will take place in the region including the White Ribbon March in Busselton and Bunbury on November 26 and 29 respectively. A Men Against Domestic Violence concert will be held at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on December 6 with proceeds going towards services working to end domestic violence. There will also be sausage sizzles, social media campaigns, educational stalls and landmarks around the region’s cities lit up in orange. Ms Wilson said the efforts were necessary as statistics were going the wrong way. “Last year, the Counting Dead Women Australia campaign reported 64 women were killed due to violence,” she said. “For 2024, this number was reached on November 17. How many more women have to die from this completely preventable cause?”