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WE ADVERTISE OUR GROUP PROGRAM AND UPCOMING EVENTS IN OUR NEWSLETTER. OUR NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED 4 TIMES A YEAR. CONTACT US TODAY TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. Important dates we remember/celebrate/acknowledge: March 8 - International Women's Day International Women's Day is a global day celebrating economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some countried (eg: China, Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaris) International Women's Day is a public holiday. The history of International Women's Day is a history of taking action. The event originated in 1908 when women garment makers in New York demonstrated to demand better working conditions. They worked in appalling conditions, earned half of men's wages, died prematurely from poor health and didn't have the right to vote. In 1910 an international conference of women resolved that each year a day should be set aside to press for women's demands. Since then International Women's Day has been celebrated around the world on March 8. From its inception International Women's Day has stood for equality between women and men. In Sydney, International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1928 at a rally that called for equal pay for equal work, an eight hour day for shop workers, no piece-work, a base wage for the unemployed and paid annual leave. Rallies, marches and celebrations have been held throughout Australia every year since. At Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre we remember the battles long fought to build a society that is just and fair to all its members, a society in which diversity, respect, safety, social justice and equality between women and men is a given. For us, International Women's Day is about celebrating what women have done, are doing and can do. Last Friday of October - Reclaim the Night Reclaim the Night is an annual women's march that is held on the last Friday in Octover. Women across the world, march on this night to make a statment about a woman's right to walk in safety in our communities with the protection of men. Sexual assault is overwhelmingly a crime committed against women and one of the reasons that women march is to bring to the public's attention the issues for women and children around sexual assault. Reclaim the Night marches have been held throughout the world for the past twenty-five years. The marches represent a claim for women's basic human right to live in freedom from the fear of violence and discrimination. The first Reclaim the Night was held in 1976 in Rome. Over 10 000 women and children marched throughout the centre of Rome to protest against sexual and physical violence. In 1978, the first Reclaim the Night marches were held in Australis in both Sydney and Melbourne. Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre believes that Reclaim the Night is an opportunity for women to share in an important global demonstration. This is especially important in the current climate where heated debated about consent and sexual assault are ongoing among government, sporting organisations and the media. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence The 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence is a campaign which highlights the connections between women, violence and human rights. The 16 days starts on November 25 (International Day Against Violence Against Women) and ends on December 10 (International Human Rights Day). The 16 day period also highlights other significant dates including
The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organised strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence agianst women by:
Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre is just 1 of the 2 000 and more organisations in approximately 156 countries participating in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign since 1991.
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