Firstly, a big thank-you to everyone who participated in the recent CEDAW online survey hosted by AWAVA and NATSIWA – we had some excellent, informative and well thought-out responses and really appreciate your contributions. For those that requested it, you will have received a draft report for comment by today 27 July. The report will be circulated next week for endorsement, so please provide your organisation’s logo for inclusion and circulate it to your networks. We would like these by 3pm on Friday 3 August. Keep an eye out for the final version, which will be posted on the website around mid-August
Lots happening this week in the news! Quite a few articles internationally about the rising number of incidents and reports of violence against women in different countries, which you can check out below, and for those that would like a bit of weekend reading, there are a number of new Australian reports released this week for you to delve into.
But firstly, for those that don’t want to read and would rather listen – download this podcast from SBS where UN Women Executive Director, Julie Mackay, discusses domestic violence leave in the workplace
Around the Nation
- A new report out this week by the Australian Human Rights Commission says that Bystanders can play a vital role against sexual harrassment. This opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald, written by Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, goes into further detail
- A number of reports from the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse have been published this week: this one covers responding to alcohol misuse and domestic violence; also, What do we know about Dating Violence and Australian Adolescents? and thirdly, Supporting women who remain in violent relationships
- This media release from the Minister for Women’s office says that “”Ministers agree to build better evidence base on violence against women””
- In South Australia, new police powers have seen an increase in interim intervention orders in domestic and family violence cases
- Still in South Australia, this story shares one woman’s story of emotional and physical abuse
And Internationally
- In India, violence against women is on the rise, more so than any other type of crime
- Statistics from the UK show a rise in arrests and prosecutions for crimes of violence against women – you can also read more here
- Zimbabwe shares a similar story, with incidents of reported domestic violence increasing
- The UN calls on all citizens of the world to end human trafficking
- This article from the UK looks at employers’ responsibilities and domestic violence
- Still in the UK, and the Director of Public Prosecutions estimates that 9 out 10 sexual assaults still go unreported
- A successful pilot program of mandatory lie detector tests for sex-offenders is set to be rolled out across England and Wales
Upcoming Events
New!!
- The Participatory Justice and Victims Conference will be held in Canberra, 17-18 September
This Month
- 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
- Sexual Abuse and Talking to Children about Safety is a free information seminar, presented by WIRE – 16 August in Melbourne
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