Protests have erupted across various cities in Australia over the past three days, condemning violence targeted at women. Thousands took to the streets in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, rallying to draw attention to alarming new figures on femicide.

Recent statistics reveal that, on average, a woman has been killed every four days in Australia so far in 2024. According to the Australian news outlet ABC, the tally stands at 27, nearly double compared to the same period last year.

In cities like Melbourne and Canberra, Australians marched demanding stricter legislation against gender-related violence. They also called upon Prime Minister Albanese to declare a state of emergency due to the surge in violence.

Earlier this month, a man fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney shopping center, including five women. Police reported that the perpetrator deliberately targeted female victims.

Addressing a protest in the capital city Canberra, Albanese emphasized the need for cultural change, stressing that men must alter their behavior. He previously labeled violence against women as a “national crisis” and an “epidemic.”

However, Albanese rejected the plea to declare a state of emergency, stating that such measures are reserved for immediate responses to crises like severe wildfires, whereas combating gender-based violence requires sustained efforts over time.

Femicide, synonymous with women’s murder, encompasses various scenarios, often involving women killed by partners or ex-partners, and sometimes as a result of being female. The European Institute for Gender Equality defines femicide more broadly, including instances like honor killings, targeting women for being lesbian, or refusing to continue in prostitution.

This recent wave of protests is not unprecedented in Australia. In 2021, nationwide demonstrations occurred following revelations of abuse and sexual violence within the Australian political sphere.

The demonstrations underscore a growing demand for concrete action to address the pervasive issue of violence against women, signaling a pivotal moment in Australia’s reckoning with gender-based violence.