We can't forget what happened just 24 hours before International Women's Day.

This post discusses violence against women. 

Today is International Women’s Day, but it’s difficult to celebrate. 

It’s difficult to celebrate, when today a woman was found dead in the boot of a car. 

I was writing this very article, as news broke that a 39-year-old man, known to the woman, was arrested and taken to Ballina police station. No charges have been laid. 

It's difficult to celebrate when just 24 hours ago, we learned that male violence had allegedly ended Samantha Murphy's life too, following a five-week search. 

Watch: Can You Spot The Red Flags Of Domestic Violence? Post continues after the video.

It’s difficult to celebrate when so far, in 2024, 16 women have had their lives brutally snatched away, allegedly at the hands of men.

That’s more than one woman per week—the horrifying average we’re becoming so accustomed to — murdered by men. Men they know. Men they loved. Men they love. Men who are strangers. 

It’s difficult to celebrate when women are being shot, stabbed, beaten, run down, burnt, tortured, even attacked with farming machinery. Their children are being left motherless. A child was murdered. 

It’s difficult to celebrate when women are being killed in their homes, at their workplace, at the shopping centre, in hospital, when going for their morning jog.

Samantha Murphy was 51 years old when her life was taken from her, allegedly by a 22-year-old man. 

The mother of three set off on her usual 15 kilometre run, from her Ballarat East home, on the morning of February 4. She knew the area well and was, by all accounts, a seasoned athlete, training for an upcoming race. 

22-year-old Scotsburn man, Patrick Stephenson, who is reportedly unknown to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering Samantha at Mount Clear. Her body has not been found. While Stephenson's lawyer successfully secured a suppression order preventing the media from using his name, media outlets challenged the order, and won. 

Samantha is the 15th woman in the less than ten weeks of 2024, to be allegedly murdered by a man. 

Natasha Nibizi was allegedly killed by her former husband, after he reportedly lured her to his home to ‘talk things out’. 

Bonnie Lee Anderson died from horrendous injuries allegedly sustained after her former partner attacked her with knives and blowtorches in 2022. She spent the rest of her life in hospital. 

Min Cho, along with her young son Benjamin Cho and husband Steven Cho, were allegedly murdered by a man known to them. 

Rebecca Young was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner in front of two of her six children in their own home. 

Amarjit Kaur Sardar was allegedly run down with a sugar cane slasher by her husband on their shared property. He reportedly tried to make her murder look like an accident. 

Samira Kamaleddine died after being bashed and choked at Bankstown Hospital by a man she didn’t know. 

Donna Baraket was allegedly murdered in her own home by her male tenant. 

Grandmother Antoinette Tozer, and her adult son, Steve, were allegedly murdered in their home, by a man who lived in the same street. 

Vyleen White was shopping with her six-year-old granddaughter when a 16-year-old male allegedly stabbed her to death in front of the little girl. 

Alana Martin was celebrating her children's first week of kindergarten and highschool when she was allegedly murdered by her former partner. 

Keira Marshall was just 29-years-old when she was shot and killed. An 18-year-old male known to her was questioned, but no one was charged. 

Alison Robinson, a 39-year-old mother, died in a deliberately lit fire. A man was charged with her murder. 

Nerol Doble died in hospital after sustaining fatal injuries in another deliberately lit fire. Her son was charged with her murder. 

Janice Walker was found dead in her home, allegedly murdered by her partner and primary carer. She was 68. 

It’s difficult to celebrate International Women’s Day when male violence against women is showing no sign of slowing down. Domestic violence is ending women’s lives at an alarming rate, ending children’s lives. 

It’s also destroying lives. For every woman murdered by a man, countless others are enduring physical and emotional torment at the hands of men who are supposed to love them; their husbands, their partners; their children's fathers. 

It’s difficult to celebrate, when on this International Women’s Day, there is but a small smattering of men talking about it publicly with any real authenticity; a small handful of men, among a raging ocean of women, desperately trying to raise awareness, to drive change, to save lives. 

It’s difficult to celebrate. 

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. 

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a Queensland-based organisation that helps women and families move on after the devastation of domestic violence. If you would like to support their mission to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most, you can donate here.

Feature image: Facebook.