Activist to talk on domestic violence, women’s equality

SOCIAL activist and founder of renowned community enterprise the Moroccan Soup Bar in North Melbourne Hana Assafiri will talk about her new memoir at a free event on Friday 29 November at Bendigo Library.

The memoir – Hana: The audacity to be free – confronts issues around domestic violence, food and women’s equality.

Born in Melbourne to a Moroccan father and a Lebanese mother, Assafiri was raised in Lebanon and endured sexual abuse and domestic violence from a very young age.

She said her whole quest in life has been about being estranged, both within her family, within the country she was formerly in, and then outside of her family.

“While part of my early development has been shaped by violence and abuse, I’m somebody who really advocates quite clearly that these things don’t define you,” she said.

“They form part of the story, but they are not the whole story.

“With that, they’ve also enabled me to develop aspects of my personality and character and convictions to demand a better life and a better plight for all those who endure violence.”

She said her memoir is about “the irony that the notion of freedom for women has to be such an audacious act.”

“Its message is for those in harm’s way, for those that want to get out, that they know and understand it doesn’t define not only them nor who they become,” she said.

“So hopefully it speaks to everybody as an invitation, not a judgment, that says, let us do better.”

“If not now, when? And if not us, who? Essentially, I just refuse to be defined by our worst attributes.”

Hana Assafiri: Hana takes place on Friday 29 November at Bendigo Library.

The event is free but registrations can be made on the Eventbrite website.

If you or someone you know is dealing with issues resulting from sexual or physical abuse, help is available from CASA on 1800 806 292 or casacv.org.au, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au, and 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732.