Reclaim the Night, also known as ‘Take Back the Night’, is an annual, international event which campaigns against sexual violence towards women. Traditionally, Reclaim the Night (RTN) takes the form of a rally/march where the public hit the streets after dark and join together to take a stand against sexual violence. Since the 70s, when RTN first took place, the marches fought for women’s right to walk without fear of being assaulted at night.
Over the years, although the focus remains on sexual violence, RTN has evolved to include other forms of gender-based violence against women, transgender and gender-diverse persons.
RTN was first held in Australia in 1978 in Sydney and Perth. In Canberra, CRCC has been organising RTN events for many years, where women and their supporters march peacefully on the streets of Canberra to raise awareness of sexual violence.
This year, RTN Canberra will be held on Friday 25 October from 5pm at Glebe Park (Civic) with our theme being ‘ Believe Survivors’.
This year’s event will be broader and more community focused with the inclusion of market stalls from a number of community organisation who assist in the fight against sexual violence around the ACT and surrounding regions.
The event will include an address by our CEO Tiffany Karlsson, as well as speeches by Sarah Rosenberg (With You We Can), Jordyn Gray (The Athena Project), and Tanya Keed (Nguru – CRCC’s dedicated service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors).
Countdown to Reclaim the Night Canberra!
Event Theme: Believe Survivors
Studies show that 90-98.8% of reports of sexual assault are found to be genuine disclosures, which is a similar rate as for other violent crimes going through the criminal justice system.
When a survivor comes forward, one of the first debates that erupts is whether or not they are lying. However, we know that research indicates that the likelihood of allegations being false is very slim. The risks of coming forward far outweigh any “benefits” people may get. Survivors are often risking their families, their livelihood, their credibility, and their personhood in order to bring these allegations forward, seek safety, and restart their lives. Survivors deserve to be heard, supported, and believed. Following a disclosure, survivors are forced to overcome a wide range of obstacles in order to feel safe and comfortable seeking help, to receive support through their process, or to potentially formally report their experience. Meeting a survivor’s story with empathy and belief is a valid response.
More than 1 in 3 girls living in Australia have experienced child sexual abuse (Australian Child Maltreatment Study, 2023).
More than 1 in 5 women living in Australia have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 (Personal Safety Survey, 2022).
Out of those, only 7.7% of victim-survivors contacted police themselves (the police were contacted in relation to only 8.3% of sexual assaults [Personal Safety Survey (2022)]).
Given that many victim survivors so obviously do not feel safe to report their experiences to police, the prevalence rates of sexual violence in Australia are likely much higher in reality. Believing survivors is not denying the due process of the criminal justice system. Believing and supporting survivors, ensuring their safety, securing the necessary funds they may need, and ensuring they get connected to the resources and services they need, is completely separate from the accountability process that the accused perpetrator may or may not be asked to participate in (i.e legal system, institutional accountability, community accountability, etc). Ultimately, our criminal justice system is built on the premise that those accused of crimes should be protected. Whether someone is found guilty or innocent through the criminal justice system does not actually reflect whether or not a survivor’s story is true.
Believing survivors says nothing about a perpetrator’s innocence or guilt, but it says everything about how we view sexual assault.
Believing survivors is about taking their disclosures seriously.
Engaging in an accountability process when you are not in the role of determining guilt, whether by interrogation of the survivor, or even simply public discourse, is actually more harmful to all parties, including, and especially, the survivor. This perpetuates social stigma, victim-blaming, and rape myths, all of which are incredibly harmful and damaging for individuals and communities, and discourage people from coming forward.
Together we can transform the way we respond to disclosures, work towards changing the narrative and foster a safer community. Together we can call out the institutions that silence and dismiss survivors, and it all starts with believing.
To learn more about the issue and to support this cause, please join us for an evening of inspiring speeches, fun entertainment, park activities, a BBQ & coffee cart. The event is FREE and family friendly. An event safe space will also be available.
Event Location: Glebe Park Civic
Accessibility Notes
- Entry to the park is wheelchair accessible. Part of the event may take place over a large grassy area due to event permit specificity, however the park is criss-crossed with paved paths.
- Glebe Park Rotunda toilets have step free access via level paved pathway. There are both male & female toilets, one accessible cubcile with hand rail & back rest another smaller cubicle with handrail, urinal & accessible basins.
RSVP on the Facebook Event Page
Your RSVP helps us estimate the quantities of resources and merchandise required for the night.
Event Guests & Partners
Tiffany Karlsson
Tiffany Karlsson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre. Tiffany is an experienced senior leader across the Australian Public Service and independent entities. Tiffany holds postgraduate legal qualifications and an undergraduate Arts/Law degree including a Philosophy major focused on applied ethics. Tiffany has a strong thread of social justice through her career including in human rights, native title, access to justice, urban policy and education. Tiffany has legal, dispute resolution, policy and program experience across entities including the International Organisation for Migration, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the National Emergency Management Agency and federal Attorney-General’s, Finance, Infrastructure, Immigration, and Education departments.
Sarah Rosenberg
Sarah Rosenberg is Executive Director of With You We Can, a national online resource demystifying the police and legal systems for victims of sexual violence while working to improve them. She pulls together advocates, experts and services to encourage collaboration and amplify the evidence based research of others. Sarah is currently partnering on a Queensland Government Department of Justice project, led by a team of Deakin University researchers at the Deakin Network Against Gendered Violence, on the development, pilot and evaluation of a state-wide victim advocacy model and integrated response to sexual assault. She has also consulted on a range of other sector initiatives. Sarah is a member of the National Women’s Safety Alliance, the Independent Collective of Survivors, the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance and the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Expert Advisory Group Expert Advisory Group informing the Inquiry into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence.
Jordyn Gray
Jordyn Gray is a gender advocate, social justice activist, and Founder of The Athena Project, a charity supporting veteran survivors of sexual violence. After joining the Royal Australian Air Force at 18 and graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2018 as a Logistics Officer, she served in Canberra, Tindal, and Amberley before medically separating in 2023. In response to her personal experience of sexual assault during her service, Jordyn founded The Athena Project to address sexual violence in the military and advocate for change. Jordyn has a Bachelor of Business from UNSW and a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Peace, and Security from Monash University She lives in Brisbane with her partner Nick and their two cats, Sofia and Athena, and enjoys baking, traveling, and reading.
Tanya Keed
Tanya Keed is a proud Aboriginal woman, from Dunghutti country, leader and allied health professional whose career across government, private sector and not-for-profit organisations spans decades. In her advocacy and practice in the family and sexual violence space, Tanya draws on her extensive background working with her community and in corrective services, the Alexander Machonochie Centre (‘AMC’), Victim Support ACT, the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre as well as with Child, Youth and Family Services. Tanya is the Director of Clybucca Dreaming Consulting, which she started as an initiative to provide Aboriginal-led services, including allied health and trauma support services, training, mentoring and case management services directly to communities in the ACT and surrounding region. In 2024 Tanya re-joined the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre as the principal consultant to the Nguru Program, a specialised service for First Nations survivors. Tanya is a grandmother of 18 grandchildren and enjoys going for walks.
Entertainment
- Inez Hargaden – Music performance
- Drummers not Plumbers – Music workshop (4pm – 5pm)
Stall Holders
- Women’s Legal Centre ACT
- Legal Aid ACT
- Toora Women
- Fearless Women ACT
- Women’s Health Matters
- Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT)
- Meridian
- SWOP (Sex Worker Outreach Program)
- Domestic Violence Crisis Service
- The Athena Project
- Stride Mental Health
- With You We Can
- Victim Support ACT
- Canberra Sexual Health Centre
- EveryMan
Event Disclaimers
While RTN 2024 is a family friendly event, some attendees may experience distress during the event. If this happens to you, please approach a CRCC staff member for assistance. CRCC staff will be wearing a pink high-vis vest.
Photographs will be taken throughout the event, mainly of the speakers, entertainers, and event partners. If you are approached by a photographer, you can opt out of your photo being taken. Please speak with a staff member beforehand if you have any concerns.
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National Support Services
1800 RESPECT: National Domestic & Sexual Violence Support Service
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 737 732 WEB: 1800respect.org.au
QLife: LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral
Available 3pm – midnight every day PH: 1800 184 527 WEB: QLife.org.au
Rainbow Sexual, Domestic & Family Violence Helpline (Formerly LGBTIQ+ Violence Service)
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 497 212
MensLine Australia: 24/7 online counselling support for men
Available: 24/7 PH: 1300 78 99 78 WEB: mensline.org.au
Kids Helpline
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 55 1800 WEB: kidshelpline.com.au
13Yarn: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support service
Available: 24/7 PH: 13 92 76 WEB: 13yarn.org.au
State & Territory Support Services
ACT: Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
Available 7am – 11pm every day
PH: (02) 6274 2525 WEB: crcc.org.au
Queensland: Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline
Available 7.30am – 11.30pm every day
PH: 1800 737 732 WEB: click here for more QLD services
NSW: Statewide Sexual Violence Helpline
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 424 017 WEB: click here for more NSW services
Victoria: Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Available 5pm weeknights through to 9am the next day and throughout weekends and public holidays PH: 1800 806 292
WEB: click here for more VIC services
Northern Territory: Sexual Assault Referral Centre – Darwin
Available: 24/7 PH: 08 8922 6472 WEB: click here for more NT services
Western Australia: Sexual Assault Resource Centre
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 199 888 WEB: click here for more WA services
Tasmania: Sexual Assault Support Service
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 697 877 WEB: click here for more TAS services
South Australia: Yarrow Place – Rape and Sexual Assault Service
Available 24/7 PH: 1800 817 421 WEB: click here for more SA services
