'Unrelenting': Victorians walk against family violence

Friday's walk began on the steps of Parliament House, with supporters carrying the 'Lost Petition', a long white banner listing the names of women, children and babies killed at the hands of a man in their lives since 2008, towards Carlton Gardens.

There were 1153 names.

Supporters carrying the 'Lost Petition', listing the names of women, children and babies killed. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

The walk also marked the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

The event offers a chance for the whole community to take a strong stand against attitudes and behaviours that are actively violent or send the message that violence is okay, victim-survivor Conor Pall said.

"Because it takes one person to take a stand against the shadow, the shadow that is family violence. With strength and with courage, soon others follow," he said.

Family violence prevention campaigner and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty reflected on her 10-year journey talking about "this bloody issue".

Campaigner and survivor advocate Rosie Batty was amongst the speakers at the event. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

"It's unrelenting. It is soul destroying. It is exhausting but when I see a sea of committed people wearing orange, I realise I am not alone," she said. 

"This is a national disgrace. This is not just happening to certain people in certain neighbourhoods. 

"It's happening across Australia, across the world. And everybody is affected."

Victorian Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Vicki Ward thanked victim-survivors for sharing their stories and frontline agencies for the work they do in tackling the issue.

"It's with changing attitudes. It's with cultural change. It's where we see every person in this state with respect, with love, with clarity," she said.

"It's where we allow them to have their power and where we allow them to be who they are."

Premier Jacinta Allan earlier said stamping out gender-based violence was a year-round responsibility.

In 2023, at least 53 women have allegedly been murdered by people known to them, according to research by activist group Destroy the Joint.

At least nine were living in Victoria.

The walk marked the beginning of 16 days of activism against family violence. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Victoria Police joined Friday's show of solidarity with officers encountering the devastating impacts of family violence with one incident every six minutes over the past year, Family Violence Command's Claire Waterman said.

After several high-profile deaths of women at the hands of men across the country, Respect Victoria chair Kate Fitz-Gibbon reiterated that the problem is often not a private matter.

"The past few months have been a stark reminder of the need to challenge the harmful attitudes that excuse, justify and even promote violence against women," she said.

"We don't accept media headlines that portray perpetrators as respected leaders or good fathers while speculating on the victim's mental health, what they were wearing or what they were drinking.

"Let your daughter be assertive and let your son cry."

Issues related to financial stability, power and control, and not understanding what violence looks like are some of the root causes, said Jenny McNaughton, executive director of family violence support service Berry Street.

There are calls for systemic change to stamp out violence against women. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

More housing options including support for women with pets, information about violence in other languages and early intervention through education are needed to tackle the issue, she told AAP.

Data from Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency showed a 2.8 per cent annual increase in family violence incidents in the year to June.

The number of family-linked murders fell from 36 to 25 but assaults and other related offences increased slightly to 23,378.

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