Respect is building healthy, equal relationships. It’s seeking enthusiastic consent. It’s promoting equality in your workplace and your sports club. It’s making it clear that violence against women, and all forms of gender-based violence are unacceptable.
It’s calling in your mate when they’ve said or done something harmful, and role modelling healthy ideas of what it means to be a man. Respect is knowing that you can help prevent violence against women.
Everyone deserves to be safe, equal and respected.
But right now in Australia, that isn’t the reality. More than 1 in 3 women have experienced men’s violence. On average, a woman is killed by a man she knows every 10 days, and in 2024 that number is much higher. Safety for women is not a given in any community – and neither is respect.
Not all disrespect leads to violence against women – but all violence against women begins with disrespect.
All of us have the power to change that by respecting women wherever we live, learn, work and play.
Join the 16 Days of Activism and help build communities where women are safe and equal. It all starts with respect.
You can use the “Respect Is...” theme in your 16 Days of Activism events and activities. It’s deliberately adaptable to represent and suit the needs of your community.
Talking about respect
Helping your community or audience understand the link between respect and preventing violence – and recognising how “seemingly harmless” attitudes can escalate or excuse and justify harmful behaviour – is a vital step in supporting them to take action against violence. Use values-based messaging to position your messages.
Learn more
- Stop It At the Start – Australian Government
- Primary prevention of men’s violence and the sexist joke – Jane Gilmore
- That Ain’t Love – Djirra
- What is the gender pay gap – and what does it have to do with preventing violence against women? – Respect Victoria
- Why we keep talking about housework when we’re trying to prevent family violence – Respect Victoria