Women's violence at the front of these runners' minds

On Sunday, January 20 Ms Brazil and her friends Brea Jewson, Julie Livingston and Florintina Dulceanu gathered in Lithgow to run for women’s rights, with the goal to help raise awareness about preventing violence against women.

According to the Counting the Dead Women Australia project, in 2018, 69 women were killed in acts of violence with 46 of these murders directly linked to domestic violence.  

The  Counting the Dead Women Australia project shines a light on violence against women and children.

After the death of Arab-Israeli exchange student Aiia Maasarwe in Melbourne on Wednesday, January 16 in Melbourne, this took the total to 70 deaths. 

“I wanted to start on a positive note but unfortunately a few days before a woman in Melbourne was killed,” Ms Brazil said. 

“I thought, let’s use our skills, running, and take it locally, because grass roots action can change the belief and culture of our society.”

“So we ran a minute for every woman who has lost her life in 2018 and for the girl in Melbourne.”

The women ran for 70 minutes around the region, putting posters up about violence statistics and knowing what to do in that situation. 

“We distributed posters with the hope to prompt further conversations about gender equality and ultimately, prevent violence against women,” she said. 

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Ms Brazil is currently studying a human rights subject at University and was tasked with getting out in the community and raising awareness about abuse and a particular case she was passionate about.

“We based the run on the Red Heart campaign,” she said. 

The Red Heart campaign shines a light on violence against women and children where women can share stories of violence survival, provide material aid, lobby for change and deliver daily the latest news, information and views on violence against women and children from Australia and around the world.

The Red Heart campaign is the work of feminist and journalist Sherele Moody.

“Our run coincided with Amnesty International Women’s Wave...but our focus was on this final most horrendous act, because women endure for years but the number of deaths are disturbing,” Ms Brazil said. 

Ms Brazil said she wished a man could’ve come on the run with them but due to schedule conflict that couldn’t happen. 

“At the end of the day we want to help end violence and to create a place where there is mutual respect and understanding between genders,” she said.  

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