They were joined by tens of thousands of others across the country who showed up to express contempt and disdain for a perceived lack of leadership at the highest levels of power and within our governments.

The rallies highlighted the anger that many women feel about how they have been treated for too long. This anger is being channelled into direct political action.

The recent allegations of rape within Parliament House and the federal government's response has prompted a petition for independent investigations into all cases of gendered violence.

The marches came as a new police report revealed more than 200 children witnessed family violence incidents in Warrnambool in a 12-month period.

Warrnambool police Senior Sergeant Chris Asenjo said children who witnessed violence in the family home were at an increased risk of committing that action themselves in the future.

"Children need a loving, nurturing environment to flourish and if they're witnessing their parents engaging in family violence, if children are watching their fathers beat, hit, swear at, isolate or control their mothers, aunties and sisters - they're at risk of committing that action themselves in the future," he said.

Survivors and allies demand justice for gendered violence in workplaces, including Parliament. The petition calls for stronger laws, accountability and more funding to prevent this type of violence.

The rallies have again highlighted that women endure many types of violence, including domestic, financial, emotional, physical and sexual. Women have had enough. They've had enough of being treated as sexual objects and they've had enough of being harassed, abused and assaulted.

As well as the need for change at the policy level, men need to take individual responsibility. Fathers need to do more to teach their sons respect for women. Better education about respectful relationships is needed in schools, as well as the home, at the earliest age possible.

As sexual assault survivor Grace Tame told protesters at Hobart's March 4 Justice rally, "behaviour unspoken [and] behaviour ignored is behaviour endorsed".

The 2021 Australian of the Year added that "men are not the enemy, corrupt behaviour is". As such, change needs to happen in all places, including the corridors of power.

The 'whataboutism' was shouted from the rooftops in The Standard's Facebook comments about family violence.

One commenter said they "wouldn't expect the sub standard (sic) to acknowledge this (family violence against men), they couldn't even acknowledge International Men's Day". Another said: "Wait until International Mens (sic) day, won't even get air time or any mention."

The article did not mention women specifically or violence against women. It referred to children witnessing family violence.

But just to be sure - when there is any local events on International Men's Day, you can be guaranteed if it's newsworthy, The Standard will be there to cover it. But there never has been any public events planned for that day in the south-west - telling isn't it?

Monday's marches continued the momentum of that movement. They highlighted that change is needed across the spectrum when it comes to relationships between the sexes.

It starts in our houses, and at our keyboards. Think before you post.