“Silence Feeds Violence”: Canberrans march to end sexual violence this weekend

Posted on 14 April, 2026

In Australia, approximately one in seven Australians has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

That’s around one in 16 men and more than one in five women.

Rebecca is one of them. And she’s speaking out to break the systemic silence around sexual violence.

A Canberra-based survivor volunteer for What Were You Wearing Australia (WWYW), Rebecca is just one of the many Australians taking to the streets as part of the WWYW Women’s March 2026 ‘No More’ rallies, gathering under the chant “No more silence, no more violence”.

With cities around the country participating, the Canberra event will be taking place at Regatta Point at 12 pm on Sunday 19 April.

For Rebecca, the rally plays an important role in helping to end the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding sexual and domestic violence.

“I went through domestic and sexual violence when I was 18, and I had found that the reporting process was quite difficult and traumatic,” she says.

“I spent quite a long time healing from that trauma, and I realised that this is a huge issue that affects millions of Australians. I decided that I have to be part of something that’s actively addressing the issue.”

Joining the Indigenous, youth-led charity as a volunteer after attending a Canberra rally in 2025, she says that volunteering with WWYW is a meaningful way to be part of changing the conversation while supporting other survivors.

Because behind the figures are countless stories of pain, trauma, and shattered lives. The scale of the problem is hard to ignore.

Along with 2.8 million Australians reporting having experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, one in six Australian adults acknowledge having perpetrated sexual harassment or coercion, while nearly a quarter report having perpetrated some form of sexual violence.

This is why WWYW CEO Sarah Williams is once again calling for a national conversation about sexual violence.

Urging communities to challenge victim-blaming narratives that continue to silence people and shift responsibility away from perpetrators, the 2026 ‘No More’ rallies place survivor voices at the centre of the conversation.

Amplifying the message “Silence Feeds Violence”, the hope is that the rallies will help victim survivors reclaim their voices after years of fear, shame and isolation.

“Sexual violence thrives in silence and stigma,” explains Sarah.

“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to help prevent harm and challenge the attitudes that allow sexual violence to persist.”

According to Rebecca, it’s small changes like this that can reshape conversations around sexual violence in Australia.

Calling out victim blaming in everyday conversations, being empathetic and respectful of people’s lived experiences, and being open to learning and having honest conversations help survivors feel safe to come forward.

“Even if those conversations are uncomfortable, and when someone shares their experience, just listening to them and believing them without judgment, can make a huge difference.”

“Small actions like that do add up to broader cultural change.”

Guided by the belief that both education and collective action are needed to make this cultural change, WWYW has five key demands during the 2026 No More rallies: sustainable federal funding to grassroots and regional DFSV services, mandated age-appropriate DFSV education in schools, free counselling for all victim-survivors, accountability from AI companies and mandated trauma-informed training for all first responders.

They’re also hoping to create awareness within schools, universities, workplaces and local communities by starting conversations about consent.

Recent data shows that only two in five young Australians reported that consent education was covered well in sex education programs, reinforcing the need for more comprehensive education across schools and communities.

“Consent education shapes how people understand and respect boundaries. From a young age, there are still gaps, and not everyone finishes school with a clear understanding of consent,” explains Rebecca.

“Consent education doesn’t just have to be about sex; it’s understanding consent is a foundation to having respectful and safe relationships with everyone. If we get that right early, it can help create a culture where respect is the baseline.”

The Canberra 2026 No More Rally will see locals march across Commonwealth Avenue before gathering outside Parliament House for speeches, reinforcing what WWYW has said time and time again: sexual violence has no place in Australian society.

Inclusive of all genders and identities, everyone is encouraged to attend.

“If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or unsure, you’re welcome to come and find one of the WWYW volunteers,” says Rebecca.

“We will be wearing high vis vests on the day, so we should be pretty easy to spot, and we’ll be more than happy to have a chat and help you out.”

For more information about support services and rally details, visit wwywau.org.