As part of the 16 Days of Activism, many gathered at the No More Empty Shoes vigil on Tuesday 26 November in Martin Place, where a pair of shoes was placed to represent the 57 women that had been murdered in domestic violence homicides over the past year.
The powerful display of the shoes each accompanied by a victim’s name, served as a poignant reminder of this national crisis. As the names were read aloud, a rose was placed to honour each individual.
Barnardos also laid a teddy bear to remember and honour the children whose lives had been stolen by domestic violence.
Speakers included Delia Donovon, CEO of Domestic Violence New South Wales, as well as Daniel Principe, Youth Advocate & Educator. We also heard from Darryl Gardiner from Rolling with the Punches, who shared his experience with domestic violence.