MEDIA

Breaking Silent Codes Founder, Aunty Dixie Link and Blur Projects Creative Director, Belinda Mason  co-hosted , with the Womens Electoral Lobby Australia, a parallel event within the United Nations’ 64^th Commission of the Status of Women in New York USA on 13 March 2020 at 6:15 pm at the Bahai Centre. Although the CSW64 was cancelled, the women from Breaking Codes travelled to New York and held their event.

Thank you so much to our sponsors: Oxfam, Position, Mura Kosker, Serco, Australian Council of Churches, City of Sydney, Quakers, Domestic Violence New South Wales, Homelessness New South Wales, Create NSW, NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

Breaking Silent Codes and Blur Projects planned to hosting a parallel event within the United Nations’ 64th Commission on the Status of Women in New York., until COVIS -19 interrupted those plans.  Many joined  us as we shared the collective experiences and wisdom of Australian and Pacifica First Nation women’s journeys out of violence to empowerment.

The women at the panel discussion individually and collectively shared their personal and intergenerational experiences of violence. The event featured First Nations storytelling, women’s ceremony and the showcasing of  the programs and responses each woman and community have used to break the silent codes of violence that have prevented them from speaking out.

“We need to own our stories and come together to appreciate each other and listen. Violence hurts, it hurts society, its hurts families and it hurts you and I.”

– Dixie Link Gordon 2019

Breaking Silent Codes was established by First Nations sexual assault and family violence advocate, Dixie Link Gordon to enable vulnerable First Nations women to find a safe environment to share their deeply personal stories. Dixie’s knowledge and extensive experience working for over 30 years in the human service sector specialising in sexual assault and family violence, brings valuable insight into silent codes which prevent First Nations women from speaking out and escaping family violence.

The Breaking Silent Codes Movement, founded by Aunty Dixie Link Gordon,  published book and website which shares the stories of  over 40 women. This was sponsored by UNSW and The Larrk Foundation with support. The women’s stories accompanied by the powerful and captivating portraits taken during the forum by human rights photographer Belinda Mason.

The book Breaking Silent Codes book is not for sale. If you would like a copy please email us and we can send a copy to you. We only ask that you pay the postage or courier costs to send it to you.

Aunty Dixie Link Gordon is the Founder of the Breaking Silent Codes Movement. In August 2018, Aunty Dixie collaborated with UNSW Gender Violence Research Network, Arts and Social Science Faculty, Women’s Legal Service NSW and the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence to co-host a unique forum for Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islander women. The forum was supported by over 40 First Nations women who exchanged the ways in which community, religion, authority and family create silences around sexual assault and family violence.

Video coverage will be uploaded shortly