This week, AWAVA Chairperson, Julie Oberin, presented a paper Women, Children And Homelessness: Taking The National Challenge Seriously and a workshop on Women And Homelessness at the National Homelessness Summit. Parliamentary Secretary for Homelessness and Social Housing Melissa Parke met with key stakeholders at the National Homelessness Summit in Sydney to discuss approaches and innovation in tackling homelessness. “This summit is a great opportunity to share ideas and look at innovative projects underway to support some of our most vulnerable Australians,” Ms Parke said.
20-24 May, 2013 was National Cyber Security Awareness Week. National Cyber Security Awareness Week is an annual Australian Government initiative aimed at helping Australians using the Internet. For resources on cyber safety, do have a look at WESNET’s Safety Net resources, WESNET is the only organisation in Australia that delivers training developed by US sister organisation National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Technology Safety Project, also see Women’s Aid UK’s guide to technology risks and cyber stalking, and Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria’s technology safety planning guide.
Around the Country
- AWAVA supported the urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women regarding the Victims’ Rights and Support Bill
- The Victorian Coalition Government has allocated $76,000 to improve the safety of women in mental health care at Mildura Base Hospital.
- National Centre of Excellence to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (NCE) announcement of three eminent women to the NCE Board: Emeritus Professor Regina Graycar (NSW), Ms Victoria Hovane (Western Australia), and Ms Shirley Slann (Queensland)
- Hume Council joins forces with organisations across Melbourne’s north pledging action to combat violence against women and girls
- NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced that the NSW government would draft proposed changes to the State’s provocation laws over the next few months
- NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith last week introduced changes to victims compensation laws: “victims of sexual abuse could be barred from seeking compensation”
Around the World
- An open letter to Facebook is currently circulating demanding “comprehensive and effective action addressing the representation of rape and domestic violence“. UK based writer Kira Cochrane replies “here’s hoping the message gets through this time”
- “The number of women jailed in Afghanistan for “moral crimes“ such as fleeing abusive husbands has risen sharply, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says
- In this article, Samuel CL Jones talks about his journey on becoming a ‘male feminist‘ and the ‘life-changing potential of feminism’
- In this article from the UK, Jane Martinson argues that Maria Stubbings’ murder “shows failure of society and officialdom in acting on domestic violence“
- In the USA, this article from the Washington Times says that “domestic violence is not only on the rise, it is pandemic“
Reports and Resources
- Women’s Health, Goulburn North East have launched a series of postcards, aimed at raising awareness of financial abuse that you can download, or order hard copies
- In this report from the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearing House, the researchers argue that “the gender debate is one of the enduring controversies in domestic violence research”
- The National Children’s and Youth Law Centre has completed their project Multi-Agency Response Guidelines on the Forced Marriage of Children. The research report and Guidelines are expected to be available shortly.
- On 21 May, 2013 the Australian Human Rights Commission launched the new online interactive toolkit, Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies. The toolkit is complemented by an interactive website providing a forum for continued discussion and development of strategies for increasing women’s participation in male-dominated industries. In launching the Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies, The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for the Status of Women said: ” This is about providing employers and businesses with the depth of talent needed to address skills shortages. It is also about economic and social equity. Something this timely toolkit will help achieve”
Get involved!
If you haven’t already, please can you complete the Stop The Violence Project survey by 31 May. The project is keen to hear from domestic violence and sexual assault services on how to improve service delivery for women with disabilities that experience violence. It should only take 30 minutes to complete: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/
**Articles published here do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only