MEDIA RELEASE
Second Action Plan 2013-2016 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022
Moving Ahead
The Australian Women Against Violence Alliance commends the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments for their release of the Second Action Plan 2013-2016 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children on June 27, 2014. The impact of Violence against women for Australian women, their families and their communities is devastating. Across the country one in three women experience physical violence and one in five experience sexual violence since the age of 15. Almost one woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner each week.
AWAVA applauds the Governments’ prioritisation of reducing violence against women and their leadership in strengthening our mechanisms to prevent and respond to this violence. We recognize the particular vulnerability of women from marginalised communities to violence and are pleased that the Second Action Plan 2013-2016 specifically targets high risk communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women and women with a disability.
Julie Oberin, the Chair of AWAVA, said today that she “welcomes the Action Plan’s focus on improving support services for women and children who are experiencing violence, whilst also addressing the root causes of violence against women such as gender inequality and community attitudes supporting and enabling violence to continue.” Ms. Oberin states that “it is a key strategy to engage with the media and key community institutions.”
AWAVA also welcomes the Senate Inquiry into domestic violence.
AWAVA looks forward to supporting the implementation of the Second Action Plan over the next 3 years. In particular, AWAVA is excited to be facilitating an International Conference on the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children in collaboration with The Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and Children in late 2015/early 2016.
For comment: Julie Oberin, Chair (email or 0419539346) Sophie Hardefeldt, Program Manager (email or 0418574018)
