Sunday, 25 November is International Day for Eliminating Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), which is supported by White Ribbon Day, and marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism.   Remember to let us know what you have planned during the 16 Days of Activism by emailing [email protected].

Julie Oberin, Chair of AWAVA, highlights that IDEVAW “”…is a reminder that male violence against women is a global, national and local issue and that ending this violence is everyone™s responsibility. It is an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come, to acknowledge and reflect how far there is still to go, and to renew our efforts.””  Read AWAVA’s full media release here.

Read UN Secretary General’s Ban Ki Moon’s IDEVAW message here.  Chief Commissioner Ken Lay’s speech at the Royal Women’s Hospital White Ribbon Day Breakfast is a must-read too.

As we approach IDEVAW, the Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services Program Conference this week: Standing Firm For Change: A Journey to Justice, was a timely reminder that Aboriginal women are 40 times more likely to experience family violence than their non-Aboriginal sisters.  Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Dr Rashida Manjoo, attended as special guest, you can hear her speaking during the conference here.

Highlights included Tammy Anderson™s outstanding performance of her life story ‘I Don’t Wanna Play House’ and hearing Andrea Pickett™s brother talk about the systemic failures that did not protect his sister from being murdered by her husband (4Corners A Matter of Life & Death).   The conference emphasised that Aboriginal communities need to be involved in designing, developing implementing and evaluating family violence approaches.   Culturally-safe responses for family violence need to be sustainably funded wherever women live:, in rural, regional, remote and urban areas.  Competition between services for women and men is not appropriate and women and children™s safety should always be a priority.  A caution that colonization does not excuse violence but is a starting point for addressing family violence reaffirmed the importance of men taking responsibility for their violence.

Around the Nation:

Internationally

16 Days of Activism

Events:

  • Tell Me Something: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence | Something in common will be posting stories about gender-based violence to their blog with actions you can take to help eliminate this global human rights abuse
  • Women’s Health Victoria will be running an awareness campaign – follow them on twitter (#16days) and facebook
  • 27 November: Half the SkyTurning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide film screening, panel discussion and launch of Jacqui True’s book, The Political Economy of Violence against Women. at UNSW, 6-8pm, to register: http://ahrcentrehalfthesky.eventbrite.com.au.  The film screening is hosted by the Australian Human Rights Centre and  the film addresses the linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality.
  • 6 December: The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse are hosting a  symposium to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 days of activism against gender violence; Damned Lies and Statistics: Understanding Gender and Violence Symposium with Dr Michael Flood and Dr Jane Wangmann  will be held in Sydney

Family Safety Programs

Read here the media release from Relationships Australia (NSW) on their research showing that Family Safety Program help men, women and children (NSW)

Julie Oberin, Chair of AWAVA, comments: œIt is encouraging that women felt safer for themselves and their children as a result of the Family Safety program but it remains a real concern that perpetrators™ beliefs on gender equity and the role of women remained unchanged.  AWAVA recognises that, fundamentally, gender-based violence against women is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality, given the attitudes of perpetrators on gender equity have remained the same, the long-term impact of the program on behaviour is limited. 

Research and Resources

New!

ACSSA released this new research on Sibling Sexual Abuse

Upcoming Events

This Month:

  • 26-28 November 2012:  Pathways to Change Conference for practitioners and policy developers to explore practice responses to children and young people displaying Problem Sexualised Behaviour and Sexually Abusive Behaviour, Hobart.  Register by 1 November for the early bird discount.  Click here for Conference  programs details

December

 Later

  • 18- 20  February 2013: The National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC)’s inaugural Conference being held  in Canberra
  • 21 March 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, . Find out more here
  • 28-30 April 2013: The Australian Migrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance (AMaRWA) will be holding a 2 day national conference: Stand Up!  Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women, supported by AWAVA.  Put it in your diary!
  • ‘Miss Representation’ Screening Tour: Women in Film & Television (WIFT) NSW are planning a series of screenings of ‘Miss Representation’ across Australia in 2012/13. If you are interested in hosting a screening of this film in partnership with WIFT NSW please email them

Internationally:

  • 4-15 March 2013: 57th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW57), New York, priority theme: Eliminating and prevention all forms of violence against women and girls