In Australia today tens of thousands of women took to the streets against sexual violence. In the capital, Canberra, the predominantly black-clad demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament and held up posters that read “You are not listening” and “How many victims do you know?”. The background to the protests are allegations of rape in the government.
Rallies were held in more than 40 cities and towns under the motto “# March4Justice” (“March for Justice”). In Melbourne alone, around 10,000 women joined the protest. Thousands also took to the streets in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
Last month, former government official Brittany Higgins accused a former colleague of raping her in 2019 in a minister’s parliamentary office. At the beginning of March, Justice Minister Christian Porter was also accused of raping a then 16-year-old fellow student in 1988. He denies the allegations.
Government came under pressure
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is coming under increasing pressure over his administration’s handling of the allegations. Today his reaction to the protests caused outrage again. „Not far from here, marches like this are reacted with bullets, but not here in this country,“ said Morrison in Parliament.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young of the Greens sharply criticized the statement on Twitter: „The Prime Minister believes that women should be grateful that we are not shot when we demonstrate for our own safety.“
Lamented the “toxic” working atmosphere in parliament
Australian politics has been shaken several times in recent years by scandals over bullying and sexual harassment of women. Critics speak of a “toxic” working atmosphere in parliament. The ruling conservative coalition was accused of having a „women problem“.
