Alpine Shire Council is proud to campaign for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by walking, running, riding, or swimming 16 kilometres between Tuesday, 25 November and Wednesday, 10 December 2025.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign that promotes a world where every person, including all women, is safe, equal, and respected.
To show solidarity with the Walk Against Family Violence taking place in Melbourne on Friday, 28 November, community members across Alpine Shire are invited to walk, run, ride, or swim for 16 kilometres during the 16-day period.
National violence prevention organisation Our Watch reported 101 deaths of women in 2024 due to preventable acts of violence, with 37 of these women killed by a current or former intimate partner.
Women who live with disability, are lesbian, bisexual, queer, are transgender or gender-diverse, or are a First Nations person, experience disproportionality high levels of violence compared to women and other people who do not live with these experiences.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, encouraged community members across Alpine Shire to move against family violence by getting involved in this campaign.
"It is undeniable that the prevalence of family and gender-based violence in Australia remains disturbingly high," she said.
"While there's no quick fix to this issue, we know that addressing violence in our communities requires a whole-of-community approach, from the highest levels of government through to every community and individual in this country."
By walking, running, riding, or swimming during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, community members can show that they want to make a difference.
Taking part in this campaign can also open opportunities to have important conversations about what a truly safe society might look like for women in Alpine Shire.
Cr Nicholas emphasised that promoting respect and ending violence against women starts with individual actions.
"Every person can make a difference by recognising moments of gender inequality in their everyday life," she said.
"There are small actions that people in our communities can integrate into their lives, such as simply as speaking out when you hear disrespectful or sexist comments.
"When we recognise that violence is never justified in our communities, we can role model the types of spaces where everybody, including all women, can live safely."
For more information about 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, including tips and resources, visit https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/campaigns/16-days-activism-against-gender-based-violence
A full list of events taking place across Victoria can be found by visiting https://safeandequal.org.au/16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence-2025/