Alyawarre man Michael Liddle wants everyone in Central Australia to understand the enormity of the problem of domestic violence.
And to work together to end it.
Mr Liddle is one of the organisers of a march in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on Tuesday against domestic violence.
"Domestic violence hurts everyone in the household," he told NITV.
"And it hurts the neighbours. It hurts the family structures. It hurts communities."
The march is also supported by the Central Land Council, who asked everyone to join and make a stand against violence.
CLC chair Warren Williams said the council executive had been speaking about Coroner Elisabeth Armitage's landmark report into the deaths of four Northern Territory Aboriginal women, released late last month after more than a year's investigation.
“These four women’s stories are a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing violence against our women, who face alarming rates of domestic and family violence,” he said.
“We thank the coroner for her report and call on everyone to join us on Tuesday at the ‘End the Silence! Stop the Violence!’ march in Alice Springs.
“This is a wake-up call for everyone. We must break the cycle of violence, starting with listening to Aboriginal women and taking their concerns seriously.
“Too many lives have been lost, and far too many families continue to live in fear. The time for action is now.”
Anti-violence advocates and community members have been calling on the Australian and NT governments to provide the NT with needs-based funding for prevention and support programs; invest in culturally relevant and meaningful men’s healing programs that support breaking the cycle of violence and support place-based, community-led initiatives that ensure women’s and children’s safety.
Both Mr Liddle and Mr Williams said men need to play a vital role in breaking the cycle of violence.
“We encourage men to take responsibility for their actions, support one another in choosing non-violent paths, and stand together with women in creating safe and respectful communities,” Mr Williams said.
“We will continue to advocate for stronger protections for our women and children.
“Together, we can honour the memories of the victims by ensuring their tragic deaths lead to lasting change.”
Mr Liddle said some men's inability to express their emotions in a healthy way was leading to violent behaviour, frequently exacerbated by alcohol - and that needed to change.
"What makes a man so angry that he physically maims his partner for the rest of her life, may even kill her?" he said.
"There's got to be a really planned operation around the parents, around grandparents who are raising children because them children will carry on that same behaviour that's being portrayed by mum and dad.
"We have children down the streets fending for themselves, and they're learning that anger ...
"Anger is wrapped around that environment."
Mr Liddle said it was heartbreaking to see so much sadness and anger in the community.
"That's not how our society supposed to live," he said.
"Why are there so many angry people? What is making us so angry.
"I've got my views on that, but the meeting and the march is about bringing to a highlight that no more can men treat women the way we are, the way we have been, and something's got to give way, and men have to start being good role models to our children."
