10,000 Australians held a vigil for a young woman killed while walking home, and it's bringing attention to a much bigger issue

Rosie Perper/Business Insider

• More than 10,000 people piled into a park in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday evening to honor a woman who was recently murdered.
• Less than a week ago, Eurydice Dixon, a 22-year-old comedian, was sexually assaulted and killed while walking home at night.
• A police chief then said people need to "take responsibility for their own safety" which many saw as victim-blaming.
• Dixon's death has spurred a wider conversation about changing the social and cultural factors that enable sexual assault.
• Business Insider attended the Melbourne vigil as hundreds more gathered around the country, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

More than 10,000 people piled into a park in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday evening to honor a young woman who was recently murdered, a crime which revived a nation-wide discussion on women's safety.

Eurydice Dixon, a 22-year-old comedian, was sexually assaulted and murdered in Melbourne as she walked home from a gig some time after 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday.

Dixon walked through Princes Park - a large, well-lit park in Melbourne's affluent Carlton North suburb - and messaged a friend around midnight: "I'm almost home safe, HBU [how about you]." 

Dixon's body was found in the park's soccer field around 3 a.m. the following morning. A man was charged with her murder the next day.

Following her death, Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton said the park would receive an increased police presence, but warned that people still needed to "take responsibility for their own safety." 

"So just make sure you have situational awareness, that you're aware of your surroundings," Clayton told reporters Thursday. "If you've got a mobile phone, carry it, and if you've got any concerns, call police."

But many women in Australia felt the comments amounted to victim-blaming and lacked an acknowledgement of the broader issue of violence against women perpetrated by men. The sense was especially acute since a woman from Sydney, Qi Yu, was also killed in the same week. 

Facebook

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that sexual violence is a "global health problem of epidemic proportions."

According to the WHO, one out of every three women has experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.

It recommends taking major steps to address the social and cultural factors which lead to women being disproportionately affected by sexual violence. 

The statistics are especially startling in the US. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 90% of sexual assault victims are women, and an American citizen is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. 

The issue of sexual assault is has been highlighted by the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. More women than ever are speaking out and demanding social change to prevent sexual assault.  

Mourning and frustration inspired many to attend vigils around the country on Monday night.