This week we were reminded of the complexities of addressing female genital cutting/mutilation (FGM/C), and the global fight to end it, as we recognised International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February. We hope you found some time to read AWAVA’s post and to have a look at some of the great work both in Australia and internationally – take a few minutes to watch Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, address to Parliament on FGM.
But that wasn’t the only thing making the news this week:
Around the nation:
- Minister Julie Collins announces the four community sector members who will form part of the official Australian Government delegation to CSW57
- New research highlights the increasing link between emerging technologies and sexual violence
Internationally:
- In Somalia, the Prime Minister says the Government will do more to protect rape victims after the country has come under UN and International criticism. This criticism follows the recent conviction of a rape victim for insulting the Government
- Kurdistan women say that laws are not enough, and their Government need to focus on implementing laws that stop violence against women
- The Philippine Star reports new laws being introduced to combat the ever-increasing instances of ‘E-VAW’ – Electronic Violence Against Women
- Recently in Central America and Washington DC a 24 Hour “”hackathon”” was held to look at ways that technology can be used to protect women from violence
- This article from the USA gives Ten Things You Can Do to End Rape Culture – a good article to share with friends/family and colleagues
- Julie Bindel from the Spectator says that legalising prostitution in Amsterdam ‘has been a disaster‘
One Billion Rising – 14 February!
- Find out what is happening in Melbourne and how you can be involved
- If you’re in Sydney here is how you can join in
- And check out what is happening in Adelaide
- Read more about the movement in this article, One Billion Rising: ‘It’s like a feminist tsunami‘
International Women’s Day
Remember to email us at [email protected] and let us know what you and your organisation will be doing on 8 March this year!
- The Women’s Council in Western Australia is again hosting its Sparkling High Tea to raise Funds For Freedom
Reports, Research and Resources
New Reports
- The ABS this week released Defining the Data Challenge: Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Australia 2013 sets the scene for developing nationally consistent data and will make it easier to measure progress against the National Plan’s goal of reducing violence against women
- Have a look at, and provide your feedback on, Spotlight on Economic Abuse, this project is a partnership between Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service and Kildonan Uniting Care which aims to raise awareness and provoke discussion of the practice and impacts of economic abuse
- The Victorian Attorney General’s Office this week released Addressing Homelessness: Partnerships and Plans. The report found that family violence initiatives significantly over performed on meeting targets
Upcoming Events
New!!
- 19 February: Attend the launch of Keeping You and Your Job Safe: Information for workers experiencing family violence. Canberra
February
- 18- 20 February: The National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC)’s inaugural Conference, Canberra
- 20 February: Launch of We Will Not Go Quietly – zine by and for sexual assault survivors, 6.30pm-8.00pm, Melbourne, RSVP by 11 February
- 27 Febuary: Getting Safe Against the Odds – Family violence and women with a disability – Training for workers who are currently working in the family violence sector to gain a better understanding of the context and experiences of women with disabilities who experience violence
March
- 7 March WIRE in Victoria present Understanding Financial Abuse in the context of Family Violence
- 21 March: 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
- For those of you based in Canberra, if you haven’t already make sure you take the opportunity to see The Women Who Made Canberra – an exhibition celebrating women in Canberra’s history, closing 17 March
April
- Stand-Up! Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women national conference, 28-30 April, Canberra
- 11-12 April: Child Aware Approaches Conference, Melbourne
Later
- 13-15 May The White Ribbon International Conference, Sydney
- 25-28 August 8th Australasian Council of Women and Policing conference will be held in Adelaide . Call for papers is currently open
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
*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only.