Call for men to step up, more funding to help end family and domestic violence
The 16 Days in WA campaign was launched with a rally through the Perth CBD. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
In short:
About 1,500 people attended a rally in Perth to launch the annual 16 Days in WA campaign against family and domestic violence.
This year's campaign theme is "play your part", urging men and boys to respect women and take action against violence.
There was also a silent march through the city, a chance for relatives to remember those who had lost their lives to the scourge.
Men and boys are being urged to play a part in changing the culture of violence against women and children, as the annual 16 Days in WA campaign began with a rally in the Perth CBD.
This year's campaign theme is "play your part", urging men and boys to respect women and take action against violence.
Keiran Dent, from the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, said women and children should not have to live in constant fear.
"It is women who lead us, it is women who care for us, it is women who shape us, and yet we hurt them," he said.
Keiran Dent called for men to do more to stop domestic violence. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
"It seems an injustice to burden women with fixing the mistakes of men, just as it is an injustice for a woman or a child to die at the hands of a man."
Ariel Bombara, the daughter of Floreat double murderer Mark Bombara, said Mr Dent's speech asking men and boys to step up was powerful.
Ariel Bombara was among those in attendance. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
"I hope more men take his lead in playing their part and stepping up to end violence against women and children," she said.
Call for funding
About 1,500 people attended the event, held by the Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing (CWSW), a peak advocacy group against gender-based violence in Western Australia.
Among those in attendance were government ministers Reece Whitby, Jessica Stojkovski and Tony Buti, as well as opposition leader Basil Zempilas.
CWSW chief executive Alison Evans has called for more funding into women and children's services, saying people in harm's way "can't wait".
Alison Evans called for more funding to help support people in dangerous situations. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
"We know that changing attitudes and behaviours takes time, but we don't see enough investment in primary prevention for that to occur in a generation," she said.
"That is just much too long to expect women and children who are hurting and being harmed to wait."
In Western Australia, reported incidents of family and domestic violence offences have increased by 18 per cent in 2024-2025, and police respond to 100 family and domestic violence assaults every day.
Minister defends funding
In its pre-budget submission to the government, CWSW has called for the government to increasing funding for domestic violence refuges and sexual assault support services, and to establish a Women's Health Advisory Council.
Ms Stojkovski, the minister for the prevention of family and domestic violence, defended the government's investment into preventing family and domestic violence, saying more announcements are coming.
"We have been working very closely with the centre, and with the sector, to understand where the needs are and where the pressure is. This is not going to be solved by just throwing more money at one part of the solution," she said.
Jessica Stojkovski says the government has more announcements coming as part of its domestic violence prevention strategy. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
At the rally there were 19 silhouettes, representing the women and children killed by family domestic violence in WA in the past year.
The suburbs and ages of those victims were read aloud, and a minute of silence followed to commemorate them.
Those killed by family and domestic violence were remembered at the rally. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Healy said family violence remains one of the most significant challenges in our state.
Commissioner Healy said police attend many tens of thousands of family and domestic violence calls each year, and the numbers continue to rise.
"While family violence perpetrators remain present in our community, we recognise there have been occasions where our actions have fallen short of expectations. We acknowledge these shortcomings and are committed to ongoing improvement," he said.
"We advocate for the development of a multi-agency 24/7 contact centre, and 24/7 response model, to give all victim survivors and their families access to the suite of family violence support services anytime and any day."
'One death is too many'
The rally had a silent march, to commemorate lives lost to domestic violence.
Kelly Bentley, whose sister Andrea was murdered, said the march was a chance for her to remember.
"Andrea was 39 years old when she was brutally murdered. Andrea was stabbed 17 times … it did not kill her instantly," Ms Bentley said.
"She lay where he left her on the side of the road, drowning in her own blood. You can only imagine her last thoughts.
About 1,500 people attended the event. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
"This is my everyday living experience, and this is why the silent march is so important to me and to us. This is what I think about in the silence.
"This is the only place we have as families of murdered members. It's time to reflect on those we loved in silence. That's what the march was designed for.
"We need to educate our children on violence and its lifelong impact, and stop the cycle of it being the norm.
"One death is too many."
Billie Wilkins spoke of her experience with family violence. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
Billie Wilkins is a survivor of family violence who spoke at the event.
"For women like me, the violence doesn't end when you leave or grow up," she said.
"It lingers. It embeds itself into your body, your thoughts and your nervous system.
"It becomes heavy, loud in your mind, and constant reminder of what was done and what was taken."
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