The first weekly round-up edition for the month and the news has been dominated with Olympic 2012 headlines; still, a few interesting articles to share, and dont forget to check out what’s on this month and coming up.

A quick update on the NGOs’ Follow-up CEDAW report: the final report was circulated this week for endorsement, and we hope to have your organisations support by 3pm Friday 3 August.  Thank you for your valuable contributions, AWAVA and NATSIWA have really appreciated your feedback and involvement in the process.  A final version of the report will be published on the website once it has been submitted to the CEDAW Committee.

Around the Nation

  • In this media release, UN Women Australia wants businesses to include provisions for employees affected by domestic and family violence
  • In Sydney, Metro have announced plans to provide employees with domestic and family violence leave, which could flow on to other industries
  • The EVAs (Eliminating Violence Against Women Media Awards) Media Awards 2012 were announced this week.  The EVAs are held annually in recognition of journalists’ excellence in reporting on violence against women. The EVAs is a project partnership between AWAVA Advisory Group member Domestic Violence Victoria, and Friend & Supporter, No To Violence Male Family Violence Prevention Association, and CASA Forum, the women™s and men™s peak organisations supporting family violence and sexual assault services in Victoria

Internationally

Resources

New Resources

  • The Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse has released this report Communities working to reduce Indigenous family violence, written by Kyllie Cripps and Megan Davis
  • Want some tips on meeting with MPs?  This handy reference, provided by our sister alliance ERA (Equality Rights Alliance) and Kevin Noakes, (a staffer from the Office of Warren Snowdon MP) may be just the thing you need

Get Involved

Media Peace Awards 2012: Call for Nominations

Journalists and producers whose work promotes awareness of social justice and humanitarian issues are encouraged to nominate now for the 2012 Media Peace Awards. The work must have been published/broadcast in the Australian public media between 3 September 2011 and 31 August 2012. Winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Dinner, to be held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on Friday 26 October to coincide with United Nations Day on 24 October. For entry criteria and nomination forms please click here

Upcoming Events

New!!

  • The 7th Women’s Health Conference, being held in 2013, is now calling for abstracts – submissions close 30 September
  • The Southern Regional Alliance conference is now open for registrations and will be held 20-21 September
  • New dates have been announced for the Red Cross Trafficking Training for Melbourne and Sydney – click here to find out more
  • Internationally: The FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children (School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University), in partnership with the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC), the Canadian Observatory on the Justice System™s Response to Intimate Partner Violence, and the BC Society of Transition Houses, invites you to join the 2012 National Research Day conference,  held November 7-9 in Vancouver

This Month

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
  • The Participatory Justice and Victims Conference will be held in Canberra, 17-18 September

Later 

  • The No To Violence conference is in November 2012
  • Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference in Melbourne, November 2012
  • 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