Young Asian Feminists Aotearoa organise rally to stop sexual violence

A "We Too" march against sexual violence will take place in downtown Auckland tomorrow.

Young Asian Feminists Aotearoa have organised the Reclaim the Night march in response to the viral hashtag #MeToo which encouraged women to speak out about being sexually harassed.

The march will start at 7pm and run from Britomart to Aotea Square, where there will be speeches, including from Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman.

Rally spokeswoman Nishhza Thiruselvam said New Zealand needed to confront its problem with sexual violence.

"Our goal is to destroy the culture of misogyny. We want perpetrators to understand and see that it causes serious harm towards communities and we won't hesitate to disclose our experiences.

"The onus still seems to be on survivors to disclose their experiences with sexual violence while the perpetrators remain silent. Their silence adds to masculinity's toxic culture.

"We are marching at night because we're sick of walking around at night always on guard and not feeling safe. It shouldn't have to feel like this."

Thiruselvam cited the Roast Busters scandal, sexual assault in prisons and lack of consequences for men in power as examples of New Zealand's issues.

She also said women of colour and those of gender minorities such as trans-people were more likely to be sexually assaulted.

"When women of colour are eroticised it is easier to commit acts of violence against them and be unquestioned. Especially when certain minority groups are seen as less than human.

"It is disgusting the manner in which rape culture is normalised. We will not stand for men in positions of power who are accused of sexual harassment to continue [being] excused by pathetic narratives which minimise their repulsive and violent actions."

Speakers at the rally include Ghahraman, activist Sina Brown-Davis, Mengzhu Fu from Shakti Youth, Tal Eyal from Auckland Sexual Abuse Help, Hala Nasr, Vira Paky, Kiran Foster from People Against Prisons Aotearoa, local poet Aiwa Pooamorn and a performance by local band Imugi.