Ingkintja men lead march calling for action on family violence
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is standing alongside its Ingkintja Male Health Service as Aboriginal men prepare to march in Mparntwe/Alice Springs at 11:30am today, calling for an end to domestic and family violence.
The march, held on International Human Rights Day, highlights both the responsibility of men to call out violent behaviours and the responsibility of government to act on the causes of violence.
The march will start at the Courthouse Lawns on Hartley Street and continue through the town centre, finishing at the Alice Springs Town Council Lawns.
“Family violence is not traditional behaviour, but we have shaped it into a cultured and accepted behaviour. There are many Aboriginal men who provide the strength and leadership that make strong family lives, who have been raised in a strong family environment – they are good partners, good parents, who are shaping the next generation around ethics and morals and are not perpetrators of violence,” said Michael Liddle, Manager of Congress’ Ingkintja Male Health Service.
“But we must start calling it out and stop hiding our heads in the sand and say violence by some of our men is getting worse! And that’s why Ingkintja’s men are standing up to say to all men that hurting women and children won’t be tolerated in our communities. We are sick and tired of it, because all of us Aboriginal men are carrying around the label and it’s not good at all!
“Our men need healing places with male cultural leadership, trauma-informed and healing-focused therapeutic care. We need a place that men can go to de-escalate, before violence starts, and to help men coming out of prison to be strong and loving husbands and fathers who don’t use violence.
“Men must speak up, call out violence whenever it happens, and support behaviour change whenever it is needed.
“Tell your friends and brothers that violence is not ok.”
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Media Opportunity
From 11:30am
Council Lawns, Todd Street
Interviews following the march with Congress Ingkintja Manager, Michael Liddle, speakers and march participants
Photo and video welcome
Media Contact: Kate Buckland kate.buckland@caac.org.au 0408 741 691
