Last week, AWAVA Chair Julie Oberin and AWAVA Executive Member Margaret Augerinos attended the National Victims of Crime Conference and the National Homicide Symposium in Adelaide hosted by Victims of Crime South Australia. The important national conference and symposium provided a range of diverse papers, presentations and workshops that explore ways in which justice for victims can be significantly improved. The National Centre of Excellence to reduce violence against women and their children announced that it will be taking over delivery of services provided by the domestic, family and sexual violence clearinghouses across the country. The Australian Institute of Family Studies/ Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault and the Centre for Gender Related Violence Studies/ the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearing House issued separate statements
Around the Nation
- In Alice Springs, NT, the government-funded Sexual Assault Referral Centre has been unable to provide full forensic examination support services for victim/survivors since March this year due to staff vacancies and Co-ordinator of the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter described the situation as “appalling“
- In Melbourne, men’s behavioural change programs have reached a “demand crisis“ where many men who volunteer for programs are being turned away due to lack of capacity
- Women’s Health Victoria celebrated the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion by issuing this media release advocating for increasing women’s reproductive health rights around the world
- In Mackay, Queensland, the annual Reclaim the Night march is scheduled for 25 October 2013 and will be dedicated to Shandee Blackburn who was murdered while walking home on Feb 9 2013
- Journalist Michael Rodden published this thoughtful and detailed examination of domestic violence in The Citizen
Around the World
- In Canada, over 2,500 male residents of Toronto walked more than 5 million steps in high heels to help end gender-based violence for the 5th annual Walk a Mile in her Shoes march
- Concerning India, the Washington Post explored mixed reactions to the rise of women-only spaces in this article and its accompanying photo essay by highlighting commentary stating that it’s “men who need to change their behaviour…not women“
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announced that it will intensify efforts to fight gender-based violence in 50 countries at high risk of conflict and disaster, saying that “only a multi-pronged, multi-stakeholder approach will work“
- The US State Department announced $10 million in funding to end gender-based violence in international humanitarian crises that builds on the framework established by ‘the US National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security’ and ‘the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally’
- From the UK, acclaimed crime fiction author Ann Cleeves questioned the increasingly graphic depictions of violence against women in Nordic literature and named popular works like Stieg Larsson’s ‘Millenium Trilogy’ as culprits
- In Ireland, the first National Union of Journalists women’s conference announced that they will soon release guidelines for responding to all aspects of violence directed at women journalists
- In Nicaragua, thousands of women took to the streets to protest legal changes that could force dangerously unsafe mediation practices onto victim/survivors of domestic, family and/or sexual violence
- From the US, this insightful article argues that the best response to gender-based violence is rejecting all gender segregation and division, starting with our schools
Publications and Resources
- UNICEF has released a collection of teaching resources for raising student awareness of the importance of gender equality
Get Involved
- In Sydney, NSW, the National Centre for Excellence to reduce violence against women and their children is looking to appoint its first Chief Executive Officer
- In Victoria, the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service is looking for a new Manager – Client Services and applications close on 9 October 2013
- In Glebe, NSW, AWAVA Advisory Group Member Organisation Domestic Violence New South Wales has announced its 2013 conference will be held on Monday 21 October. Please email [email protected] for further information
**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only