Murder of Australian comedian sparks outcry over violence against women
The alleged rape and murder of a young comedian as she walked home at night in Australia has unleashed an outpouring of public grief and anger about violence against women.
Eurydice Dixon, 22, was killed just hours after performing a gig in Melbourne’s Highlander bar. In a poignant last text message to her boyfriend she wrote: “I’m almost home safe. HBU? (how about you?)” reported the Age newspaper.
Her body was found on a football field in the early hours of Wednesday morning and a man, 19, has been charged after handing himself in to the police.
Dixon’s tragic death has evoked memories of the 2012 murder of an Irish woman, Jill Meagher, 29, in an adjacent Melbourne suburb. The violent attack on Meagher, who was also walking home alone after a night out, generated high levels of public sympathy and prompted a peace march of 30,000 people.
There have been calls on social media to honour the aspiring comedian, who was known for her passion for women’s rights and social issues, with a similar public gathering.
However, advice from the Victoria state police that people should “consider their personal safety and be aware of their surroundings” has also sparked a backlash over victim blaming, with many women expressing their anger that they cannot walk home alone without looking over their shoulder.
In a series of tweets, Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s Premier, entered the debate, commenting that violence against women would not change until men changed, reported ABC news.
"Our message to Victorian women is this: Stay home. Or don't. Go out with friends at night. Or don't. Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms. Because women don't need to change their behaviour. Men do," he said.
Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive Fiona McCormack told ABC Radio Melbourned that “we really need to challenge the concept of that male sense of entitlement about using violence.”
She added: "When we think about crime in our community, any type of violent crime particularly, we have an issue around gender.
"That's obviously not saying all men are violent and that's not saying there's something inherently evil in men, it's something about our culture."
