Demands are an important part of the work of local Reclaim the Night Collectives. The pooling of demands of non-urban women with the demands of urban women presents a strong unified voice across different levels of society:

Demands can be presented to 

• politicians at all levels of government

• key community leaders 

• advocates 

• media

• united nations

By making demands, women challenge society and those in power,  to recognise men's sexual violence against women and children as a crime against humanity and to make those men who perpetrate this crime responsible.

Participation in Reclaim the Night is part personal, part connecting with other women as part of the event, and part public and political. Street marches, rallies and theatre are powerful and visible ways to inform the general community about the issue of sexual violence and other abuse against women and children.

They also provide good stories for the media which in turn can encourage a response from politicians.  Whilst a more direct approach to lobbying for specific demands was not generally a feature of RTN activity in rural communities, the opportunity is there to be taken. 

Making demands for change is something that can be done in your community, and can contribute to numbers in support of a march, rally and after. 

"We demand improved services for survivors; funding for violence prevention; Law reform; self defence for girls; safer public places." Janne  Wollongong

Collectives have noted that often messages of support from other collectives contain their local demands, which when combined, form a powerful, united, local and global call, for an end to men's sexual violence.

Send Demands here

"Perhaps that could be worked into the actual process of staging the event.  Just to have a workshop for people to come together and make their list of demands ... that's a good idea."  Sarah, Bathurst 

Send Demands here