As CSW57 is winding up in New York the AWAVA delegation have been working hard to support negotiations and secure outcomes to end violence against women and girls. No doubt there will be lots of newsworthy items from the UN early next week on the Agreed Conclusions – although news reports this week suggest continual blocking by some member states may stall negotiations. Women’s organisations globally have signed a statement urging member states not to renegotiate women’s rights.
CSW57 News
- The New York Times reports concerns there will be no Agreed Conclusions
- The Washington Post reports that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood says the current CSW57 draft violates islamic rules
- This article looks further at women’s sexual and reproductive rights
Around the nation
- This media release from Minister Collins gives a Pledge to All Women and Girls to continue Australia’s efforts to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls
- New funding has been announced by Foreign Minister Bob Carr to help end violence against women in Cambodia
- Clementine Ford questions why we keep asking women to protect themselves from rape
- ABC reports on the Senate Inquiry into forced sterilisation
- Julie McKay, UN Women Australia says that violence against women is why we need to keep discussing gender equality
Internationally
- The UN has announced a study on the extent of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- The small nation of Tuvalu has recognised violence against women as a growing concern
- In Kenya, new Rites of Passage are being introduced as a step to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
- A Director of Public Prosecutions study from the UK shows false allegations of rape and domestic violence are very rare
- The UK National Union of Students have published a new research report looking at ‘Lad Culture’ in British Universities
- In India, the prime accused in the Delhi Gang rape case was found dead in his jail cell in New Delhi
- Read these great articles, one following on from Steubenville We’re Sick and Tired of Rape Being Treated Like an Unavoidable Joke and 5 ways we can teach men not to rape
- From New Zealand this excellent video avoids victim-blaming and highlights responsibilities of others
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ACT Women’s Grants Program
The Minister for Women, Joy Burch has called for applications for the ACT Women’s Grants Program. In 2012–13, there is a total funding of $130,000 available including an additional $30,000 for the inaugural Audrey Fagan Violence Prevention Grants.
Funding is available under the following three categories:
Category One – Capacity Building: seeks to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of community organisation to advance the objective and priorities of the ACT Women’s Plan.
The maximum funding available for a Capacity Building Project is $5,000 (GST Exclusive).
Category Two – Special Projects: seeks to advance the objectives and priorities of the ACT Women’s Plan by contributing to public policy, service development, or gendered research.
The maximum funding available for a Special Project is $25,000 (GST Exclusive).
Category Three – Audrey Fagan Violence Prevention Projects (new): seeks to progress one or more of the objectives outlined in the ACT Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Strategy 2011–2017.
The maximum funding available for an Audrey Fagan Violence Prevention Project is $15,000 (GST Exclusive).
Please note only one application per category may be submitted by an organisation/group. Applications close on 22 April 2013. All applications must be submitted online. This can be accessed at http://dhcs.smartygrants.com.au/
Please refer to the ACT Women’s Grants Guidelines 2012-2013 to ensure that your organisation/group is eligible. A copy of the guidelines are on the Women ACT website at: http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/women/grants_and_scholarships
For further information or assistance please contact the ACT Office for Women on 6205 0515 or 02 6207 2552 or via email [email protected]
Today is the National Day of Action Against Bullying here in Australia.
For those interested in real social change and the prevention of bullying and violence, the Social Justice Education service provides a range of supports for leaders, managers, policy officers and practitioners, in government, schools and universities, and also works with social service and other education service organisations, and parent, childcare, community and sporting organisations. Visit www.teachjustice.com.au for more information
*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only