The fear of doing nothing to stand up to sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour should always outweigh the fear of acting against it, Australian of the Year Grace Tame told a March 4 Justice rally on Monday.
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The event in Hobart was one of 40 held nationwide against sexual abuse and harassment of women, instigated by a recent string of sexual assault allegations leveled at those within federal government.
Ms Tame spoke to thousands of people who gathered on Tasmanian Parliament's lawns at midday.
She said evil behaviour thrived in silence.
"Behaviour unspoken, behaviour ignored, is behaviour endorsed," Ms Tame said.
"The pursuit of progress does not have to be adversarial.
"There is an imbalance obviously - that's why we're here today. Women are worse off.
"But men are not the enemy. Corrupt behaviour always has been and always will be the enemy."
Domestic violence survivor Natalie Hocking said recent events concerning the conduct of government ministers on rape allegations had enraged her.
She said sharing her story always came with a risk to her safety and that of her family.
"This doesn't make me unique," Ms Hocking said.
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"Victim-survivors do this every single day."
Women's Legal Service chief executive Yvette Cehtel said one in three Australian women experienced family violence and one in three women had reported being sexually harassed in the workplace.
"One woman a week dies from family violence," she said.
"The attitudes and behaviours that allow and permit violence against women have been normalised and accepted."
Unions Tasmania state secretary Jessica Munday said women knew they were not safe from sexual harassment at work because they were not safe anywhere.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
