Sydney 2019 #WomensWave

Sydneysiders are urged to join in the third annual global Women's March event, #WomensWave to draw attention to the current crisis of violence against women in Australia, to drive a change in cultural attitudes that perpetuate this violence and to demand the Australian government address gender-based violence with immediate and definitive action.

Supporters will gather in Hyde Park for speeches before marching in solidarity to Belmore Park for the Women's March Fair, which will feature performers, not-for-profit organisation stalls and food trucks.

Media personality and host of Is Australia Sexist? Yumi Stynes will MC the event. Featured speakers include Bri Lee (Award winning author of Eggshell Skull), Rae Johnston (Head editor of Junkee Media), Bhenji Ra (Indigenous queer artist-activist), Jane Brock (Immigrant Women's Speakout and 1 Billion Rising) and Aunty Norma (Indigenous community leader). Performances by Des Fleurs, Malaika Green and Body Type will close the event.

Women's March Sydney has joined the NSW Women's Alliance and Domestic Violence NSW to officially support the Safe State Initiative (www.safensw.org.au). The Alliance backs 49 comprehensive recommendations to address family and sexual violence in NSW. The Alliance recognises the right of every person to be safe and live free from violence.

NSW Women's Alliance, Amnesty International, Mums4Refugees, Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children, fEMPOWER, and Lou's Place will be hosting stalls at Belmore with opportunities for people to learn more and get involved in their important work.

Newly announced ambassadors include Ronni Kahn (CEO of OzHarvest), Catriona Wallace, Milan Ring, Ginger and the Ghost, Michelle Law, Faustina Agolley, Mosquito Coast, Alice Glascott, Mother's Club Band, Jamila Rizvi, Erin Gough, Michelle Law, Nakkiah Liu (Black Comedy, ABC), Dr. Anne Summers, Alison Rice, Zoe Marshall, Miriam Hechtman, Gabrielle Journey Jones and Stonefield.

Previously announced ambassadors include Councillor Jess Scully (City of Sydney), Grace Otto, Krew Boylan, and Jess Carrera (Dollhouse Pictures), Janice Peterson, Victoria Lee, Aleyna Fitzgerald, Elle Ferguson, Erika Heynatz, Pia Miller, designer Alice McCall, Isabel Durant, Sarah Jane Adams, Danielle Ragenard (IMG), Kat Dopper (Heaps Gay, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras), Carmen Hamilton, Aunty Norma, Genevieve Smart, artist Kitty Callaghan, Ollie Henderson, Holly Ryan, Cloudy Rhodes, Sophie Thé, Jamie Blakey and Liz Roberts from OneTeaspoon, Cartia Mallan, Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham (Mary's, The Lansdowne, The Unicorn Hotel), Oscar McMahon (Young Henry's), trans community advocate and activist Peta Friend, Kylie Javier Ashton (General Manager, Momofuku), Tania Ferguson (General Manager, Old Clare Hotel) alongside peers in their respective industries.

Partner organisations joining the march include Marque Lawyers, Feminist Legal Clinic, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, The University of Sydney Women's Collective, Macquarie University Women's Collective, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and United Voice NSW.

Sydney's Women's March joins sister marches in major cities around Australia and globally in London, Stockholm, Rome, Barcelona and Canada. The first Women's March two years ago saw 5 million women and allies across the world join in solidarity. At the first official march in Sydney in 2017, 10,000 people walked through the CBD. At the second anniversary event #Unbroken thousands of women and their allies formed a human chain to show they were still standing strong.

Women's March Sydney is a registered non-profit run by volunteers, nonpartisan and inclusive. Donations help cover event costs, including staging/sound, speaker and performer payments, AUSLAN interpreters, with 15% of funds raised going to Lou's Place, a community-based refuge run by women for women in crisis, homeless, feeling isolated or needing support.

Thanks to the generosity of the Manaaki Foundation all donations will be matched dollar for dollar, so all donations will go twice as far.

Donations are gratefully received via Chuffed: https://chuffed.org/project/womens-march-2019-womenswave