More than 2,000 people have marched through central Sydney calling for more effective measures to counter violence and sexual harassment against women.
The annual International Women's Day march was dominated by the union movement and migrant groups, who led the procession from Hyde Park to Central Station.
High rates of domestic violence against Aboriginal women and exploitation of Asian women in the workplace were highlighted at the rally.
Actress Helen Dallimore said she had been attending marches since her mother took her to a protest more than 20 years ago.
'Today I march for her and all of the mothers and all of the daughters — that they may be respected, equal and safe."
NSW Labor Women's Forum secretary Trish Marinozzi spoke out about her own experience working in a large retail chain store.
"In the back office I had my direct manager come up behind me, assault me, with no cameras, no witnesses, who was I going to speak to?"
"I had no-one to actually listen to me … I had to keep going because I needed that pay packet."
Michelle Zhou from Asian Women at Work said she regularly received reports of migrant women being exploited.
"A group of migrant workers where I used to work are suffering from urinary tract infections, because they are not allowed to take regular toilet breaks," she said.
The rally also heard calls for the Federal Government to introduce paid domestic violence leave.
Jan Primrose from the Australian Services Union said the leave would cost 5 cents a day for every employee, and allow workers suffering from domestic violence to relocate to safer shelter.
"The cost of introducing paid domestic violence leave is miniscule. The cost of doing nothing to those workers is devastating."
