NNSL (Sep 15/99) - What began as a response to a series of sexual assaults, rapes and murders in 1973 Germany, has now spread world-wide. Three hundred women participated in that first march to reclaim the night streets for women.

Take Back the Night marches now take place on an annual basis in cities around the world and thousand upon thousands of women, men and children march to demonstrate that violence must not be tolerated and that women have the right to be safe.

As in other cities, Yellowknife's event has broadened its scope to include violence against children as well as women, and it's no longer only women who march.

According to statistics from the Status of Women Council, a woman is sexually assaulted every six minutes in Canada, and every 17 minutes the assault includes rape. In 1994 in the NWT, 704 assaults were reported to RCMP, nine of every 10 cases where a woman or teenage girl was assaulted, it was by someone she knew.

In 1998, in Yellowknife, there were 85 reported spousal assaults by a male offender. That's 25 more than the previous year.

Where violence is concerned, elders and the disabled are also at risk.

"The issues haven't gone away," says acting executive director of the Status of Women Council of the NWT, Marsha Argue.

"It's just as important. And more people have taken it on as their issue, it's not just a women's issue."

Last year in Yellowknife, for example, there were students joining in the march -- students who demonstrated that they are more politically and socially aware than ever before.

"Men too," adds Argue. "They're not afraid to get involved in this issue."

While in some communities a specific woman might be honoured, in Yellowknife that isn't the case because there have been so many, explains community worker Addena Sumter Freitag.

In early August, two women were sexually assaulted on the streets of Yellowknife.

This year, the march begins at the Status of Women office. People will gather at 6:45 on Thursday, September 16 and depart at 7 p.m. The group will pass through problem areas in the city, finishing at Javaroma (NorthwesTel) for a wind-up celebration with music, poetry and food.

Last year, about 100 marched in solidarity against violence.

"Your presence shows your support," says Sumter Freitag.

"If you're a politician or a public figure, it doesn't take anything except your presence."

As a community event, Take Back the Night not only raises awareness of continuing violence, but also indicates that we as a community stand together against violence. You don't have to be a public figure to do that.