Media Release
Missy Higgins' shoes to stamp out violence
The YWCA Week Without Violence: 14-20 October
Ever dreamt of walking in a celebrity's shoes? Now you can, while raising funds to put an end to domestic violence in Australia. Missy Higgins, Livinia Nixon, Jimmy Barnes, Alexander Downer, Mark Ricciuto, Helen Garner, Justin Madden, James Hird and Lindy Morrison are among just some of the Australian icons who have donated their shoes to an eBay auction that will take place during the YWCA Week Without Violence.
In 2005, 77 prominent Australians contributed their shoes to YWCA's awareness raising exhibition, Seventy7 Pairs of Shoes, taking a stand against domestic violence. Each pair of shoes represented one of the 77 people who are, on average, killed by their intimate partner each year. This year some of the celebrities have taken the next step, and donated their shoes to the YWCA's national anti-violence campaign.
The YWCA Week Without Violence started in 1995 in response to increasing levels of violence in society. Today, it is a global campaign involving more than 100 countries and millions of men, women, youth and children wanting to make their communities safer places to live.
"During the Week Without Violence, we ask for violence to be put on the national agenda," said Helen Carvosso, President of YWCA Australia. "Violence levels in Australia are unacceptably high. Research shoes that violence affects one woman in every three who are in relationships in Australia."
"The Week Without Violence is about individuals standing up to violence," Carvosso explained. "There are measures that we can all take to help protect ourselves and others from violence. This includes reporting incidences of violence you witness, promoting support services to friends and family members experiencing violence, and challenging ideas and attitudes that normalise aggression."
In Sydney, YWCA NSW has partnered with Darfur Australia Network to exhibit The Forgotten Peoples Project, an art installation to raise awareness about the continuing tragedy in Darfur, Sudan.
The YWCA of Darwin is hosting an array of daily activities to mark the Week Without Violence, including a Walk Against Violence Everywhere, self defence classes, art and poetry displays and a number of important workshops on dealing with violence.
For further information on all of these events, please visit: http://www.ywca.org.au/projects/weekwithoutviolence/index.phpFor comment contact Helen Carvosso, President of YWCA Australia: 0417 978 254.