Catholics across the Archdiocese are being called to play a role in 16 Days, a campaign aimed at stopping family and domestic violence.
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a worldwide campaign which runs annually from White Ribbon Day on November 25 to International Human Rights Day on December 10.
Supported by the United Nations, this year’s campaign is titled “United to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Ensure Justice, Protect Survivors, End Impunity.”
Thanks to an initiative from the Archdiocese’s own Catholic Family & Justice Support Services, parishes are being encouraged to participate in the campaign as inspired by Christ’s words: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Pope Leo XIV has reiterated this marker of discipleship throughout his papacy. Most notably, earlier this year he said, “violence, any violence, is the line that divides civilisation from barbarism.”
In response to the issue of femicide, in which a woman is murdered for simply being a woman, the Holy Father said, “the Church, together with families, schools, parishes, movements and associations, religious congregations, and public institutions, can share the urgency of carrying out specific projects to prevent and stop violence against women.”
According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, a woman was killed by an intimate partner every 11 days during 2024-25.
Leo’s predecessor, the late Pope Francis, also broached this issue throughout his papacy.
In 2023 he said, “violence against women is a poisonous weed that plagues our society and must be pulled up from its roots.”
He urged everyone to abandon apathy towards this issue.
“It is necessary to act immediately, at all levels, with determination, urgency and courage,” he said.
In alignment with the fundamental Catholic belief that all people possess inherent dignity, the Family & Justice Support Services are urging Catholics to participate in this year’s campaign by acting in solidarity with victims and opposing the normalisation of violence, all with the intent of ensuring everyone is duly treated with their God-given dignity.
The Catholic Family & Justice Support Services have outlined three behaviours which Catholics can adopt to ensure this.
These behaviours involve heeding the testimonies of victim-survivors; learning about support services and the complexities of gender-based violence, particularly its non-physical forms; and actively challenging attitudes that enable violence, whilst also taking part in 16 Days activities.
The landmark 16 Days event in Perth will involve a march on White Ribbon Day, beginning at 10am at Forrest Place in the CBD.
Throughout the campaign, individual Catholics are also encouraged to wear orange and partake in other events happening throughout the state.
Some of the events on offer include various workshops, market stalls and free pop-up legal advice, all undergirded by the slogan “play your part”.
At the parish level, it’s suggested that those in leadership positions implement prayers of intercession for those suffering from gender-based violence, set up orange displays, and include a discussion or monetary collection for a relevant support service.
More information about 16 Days, go to https://www.wa.gov.au/government/16-days-wa.