Media Release: 21 October 2003

YOUNG PEOPLE SAY IT LOUD: NO TO VIOLENCE

Young people will join graffiti artists, DJs and hip-hop dancers to speak out against domestic and family violence at the City Square, 2 to 5pm on Monday 27 October 2003.

Young graffiti artists will invite young people from across Melbourne to help them create two large-scale artworks with anti-violence themes. There will be a hip hop dance class, youth DJs throughout the event, and a 'Sorrow, Anger, Hopes and Dreams' book in which young people can write their feelings about violence.

"Graffiti art, music and dance are young people's forms of expression," says event organiser Kate Murray. "This is a chance for young people to speak out, and to learn about the issues, and about services that can help." Everyone attending Say It Loud will receive a showbag of information about youth and family violence support services. The book and artwork will be displayed after the event to further raise awareness.

Ms Murray works for Women's Health West as Coordinator of the Western Region Network Against Family Violence. The Network organised Say It Loud with youth workers from across the Western Region for the statewide annual Week Without Violence.

"Everyone has the right to live free from violence," Ms Murray says. "Yet recent research shows that a quarter of young Australians have witnessed domestic violence against their mother or stepmother. Many thousands of young people have themselves been abused or neglected by parents or carers. That's why young people are the focus for this year's Week Without Violence."

In research commissioned by the federal government in 1999, young people aged 12 to 20 reported high levels of violence. The most prevalent form was bullying, experienced by 56% of males and 45% of females. Fifteen percent of both males and females reported personally experiencing domestic violence, while 14 percent of females reported experiencing rape or sexual assault. The 1996 ABS Women's Safety Survey showed that single women aged 18 to 24 are more at risk of sexual assault than any other group.

Both young men and women are vulnerable to violence, however women in particular are at risk of violence in intimate relationships. The same ABS survey found 7.3% of women aged 18 to 24 had experienced violence by their current partner in the previous year, compared to 2.1% of women aged 45 to 54. Eighteen percent of women calling Victoria's main family violence crisis line in 2002 were under 24 years of age.

"Many young people passionately want a better world," says Ms Murray. "Say It Loud will be a positive, youth-centred space for young people to break the silence about domestic and family violence, and to express their hopes for a violence-free world. Our central messages are: violence is a crime, and it's okay to talk about it. If someone is hurting you, you're not alone - there are services that can help, and life can be so much better."

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MEDIA CONTACT

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact our Chief Executive Officer Melissa Afentoulis or our Communications Officer on 9689 9588 or via email.