Dozens of people attended the first IWD March in Katherine since 2019 which was organised by the Katherine Women's Legal Service.

KWILS chief executive officer Brooke Brenner took the opportunity to highlight the ongoing suffering inflicted on many women caused by domestic and family violence.

"On International Women's Day 2021, Katherine Women's Legal Service holds events to bring the community together and to inspire reflection on the gendered issues that women face," she said.

"The ongoing prevalence of violence against women and the unacceptable death toll is a devastating statistic that we seek to highlight.

"KWILS is on the frontline of domestic violence in the Katherine Big Rivers region providing legal advice and representation to women across the region."

Up-to-date statistics on the rates of domestic violence in regional and remote Australia are hard to come by, but the available data paints a stark picture, particularly for Indigenous women.

Indigenous females living in remote Australia are 45 times more likely to experience domestic violence than their white, city dwelling counterparts, according to the 2001 Gordon Inquiry.

There was no International Women's Day march in Katherine last year, instead a joint event with the Katherine Regional Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation was held to raise the public profile of both causes, according to Ms Brenner.

Marchers on Monday afternoon held signs displaying messages of equality and female empowerment such as "Equity for all" and "She can handle all conditions."

The theme for IWD 2021 was "Choose to Challenge" and was based on encouraging action to challenge gender bias.

"This year the IWD theme is Choose to Challenge, KWILS urges the community and decision makers to challenge attitudes and behaviour that contribute to violence against women across the region," said Ms Brenner.

The march was followed by a free screening of "I Am Woman" at Star Cinema.

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