IT'S a sad day when any organisation goes into liquidation, but moreso when it is a charity dedicated to ending Australia's terrible cycle of domestic violence.
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White Ribbon filed a notice with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on Thursday confirming it had resolved to appoint liquidators "following an analysis of the organisation's future sustainability".
The move came after it was reported earlier this year that White Ribbon was struggling with debts of more than $800,000 and has raised questions over what will become of signature events such as White Ribbon Day, that had been scheduled for November 22 this year.
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However, the real tragedy is not that White Ribbon has gone into liquidation but rather that it was needed in the first place - and is still so desperately needed now.
In a perfect world, there would be no need for organisations such as White Ribbon.
In a perfect world, partners (most often men) would not feel the need to exert their physical dominance in a relationship, too often with fatal consequences.
In a perfect world we would not need ambassadors to stand up and say "no more" to domestic violence, because it simply would not exist.
But we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a flawed world with flawed people who make flawed decisions.
We live in a world where domestic violence is real, dangerous and terrifying.
We live in a world where Australia's great shame is that women are still dying in domestic violence incidents at a rate of one a day.
And we live in a world where organisations like White Ribbon are desperately needed to continue shining a light on the shameful truth and to keep shouting from the rooftops about the need for change.
White Ribbon might be no more, but its powerful advocacy for change must live on.