A busy week this week, with lots of international news and reports crossing our virtual desks that we want to share with you. But before you settle in to reading, check out the details on the UN Women event below, where you can join an on-line discussion on violence against women with experts across the world (without leaving the comfort of your desks or homes!) Make sure that you register now if you want to participate, it starts Monday.
Be Involved!
UN Women are hosting an online discussion on ending violence against women and girls from 23 July “ 3 August which will inform preparations for the 57th session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW57) in March 2013. CSW57’s theme is: Eliminating and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. This is a great opportunity for you to give your views and contribute your expertise on addressing violence against women, respond to questions and share thoughts on best practice, gaps and challenges. The key themes of the discussions will feed into two reports by UN Women to inform the UN Secretary-General™s reports for CSW57 and to guide discussions between CSW members, and will feed into an Expert Group Meeting on prevention (Bangkok, 17-20 September 2012) which will also present its outcomes to CSW.
The first week of discussions will focus on primary prevention and the second week on multi-sectoral services and responses to victims/survivors
In News Around Australia
- Many of you will have heard Ricky Nixon’s name in the news again over the last week, as he has been arrested on a number of charges relating to assaulting his partner. This op-ed by Susie O’Brien says there is no place in public life for men like Ricky Nixon
- More funding cuts in Queensland will impact on another frontline service – Breaking the Cycle in Rockhampton
- And take some time to read this article published in Marie Claire last month on the sterilisation of women and girls with disabilities in Australia
Around the World
- Philanthropist Owen Glenn has committed $80 million to addressing Domestic and Family Violence in New Zealand and the Roundtable on Violence Against Women supports his call for an inquiry into why domestic and family violence is still a major issue in New Zealand
- Still in NZ, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) focused on violence against women when it met with NZ officials this week – recent reforms to family legal systems and lack of progress in implementing recommendations from the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence report were called into question – read Women’s Health Action’s media release here
- News from Mexico reports that violence against women is surging, and many of the reported incidents remain uninvestigated
- A new report from Pakistan highlights violence against women, particularly domestic violence and ‘so-called honour killings’, are on the increase. Kidnapping and abduction cases are also on the rise
- Poor implementation of laws in Pakistan is argued in this article to be the main reason behind an increase in violence against women
- Dr Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, says that recent killings of women in Afghanistan and Pakistan are a tragic reminder of a… global and increasing concern
- and finally, read this op-ed on sterilisation of women and girls with disabilities
New Reports
New Reports from the UK and Ireland that you may find interesting:
Sexual violence against people with disabilities – This report from Rape Crisis Network Ireland presents research findings suggesting that there are few notable differences between disabled and non-disabled women in relation to prevalence of sexual violence.
Office of the Children™s Commissioner™s Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups, with a special focus on children in care – The Office of the Children™s Commissioner has produced a briefing on the emerging findings of its inquiry, highlighting that both perpetrators and victims are ethnically diverse and come from all social backgrounds. The inquiry has found that young men and boys, as well as adults, are involved in perpetrating sexual exploitation and that there are some links to adult-based prostitution and brothels.
Upcoming Events
New!!
- Sexual Abuse and Talking to Children about Safety is a free information seminar, presented by WIRE – 16 August in Melbourne
This Month
- The Equality Rights Alliance are conducting FREE Federal Budget training in Alice Springs 23 July – click here to learn more and register now!!
- Wire have announced new dates and locations in Victoria for their Women’s Workshop: Getting Control of your money after family violence
August
- Homeless Persons Week, running 6 -12 August, recognises the most common reason clients give for seeking assistance relates to domestic and family violence
- The Violence Against Women Conference on 7,8, 9 August 2012, in Brisbane www.violenceagainstwomenqld.com.au
September
- Take action on Peace Day 21 September, and become part of the largest gathering of people in the name of Peace and non violence. Watch the youtube clip here
- Standing firm for change: a journey to justice is a national conference run by the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service Victoria. The conference will be held on 21-23 November 2012, in Melbourne. Registration is open until 30 September.
Later
- The No To Violence conference is in November 2012
- Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference in Melbourne, November 2012
- The 7th Womens Health Conference will be held in Sydney in 2013
- Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT! A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here