Weekly Round-Up * 5 January

[TRIGGER WARNING: descriptions of violence, sexual assault] At the same time many people will reflect on 2014 as a year of continued violence and of insufficient responses to this violence.

 

We know that gender based violence is staggering in its scope and that it will continue to impact millions of women in 2015. We know that gender inequality is both a consequence and cause of violence against women. At AWAVA, we also know that in 2015 passionate people like you will continue to struggle for the right of all women and girls to feel and be safe wherever they are around the globe.

 

Around the Country

• Police and women’s services braced for an increase in domestic violence cases before the holiday period, with police in Mackay attending 13 incidents on Christmas Day alone
• Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has spoken about the need to reflect on the many stories of violence against women from 2014 and to address the gender inequality that allows this violence to continue 
• Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to intimate partner violence and calls have been renewed for increased training for midwives working with women who may have experienced violence
• Ken Lay has resigned as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police in order to provide care and support to his wife who is experiencing a long term illness
• Queensland’s Domestic Violence Taskforce is considering proposals that call for mandatory behaviour change programs for domestic violence offenders [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence]
• In Victoria, a police officer has been suspended with pay while allegations that he sexually assaulted a fellow officer are investigated
• In New South Wales, the number of domestic violence victims being referred to a trial advocacy group for court services far exceeds expectations [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence, violence image, death]
• In Western Australia, a District Court has found that a woman defamed her estranged husband byposting on Facebook that he had abused her 

Around the World

• Recent incidents of violence around the world have demonstrated that men who perpetrate ‘mass killings’ are often already known perpetrators of violence against women [TRIGGER WARNING: gun violence, descriptions of violence, death]
• Nidal Karim, senior adviser for gender and empowerment impact measurement at CARE USA, has listed four tips for integrating gender-based violence into development programs 
• In the United States, journalists are examining the ongoing impact that violence has, not only on direct victims, but also on their families and caregivers [TRIGGER WARNING: Gun violence]
• In the UK, new legislation criminalising coercive and controlling behaviour in an effort to more fully address domestic violence has been met with guarded praise [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of abuse]
• In the Philippines, investigations continue into trafficking and abuse of women by overseas recruitment agencies [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence, abuse, sexual violence, suicide]
• In the United States, some researchers have raised concerns about the focus on sexual assaults of women in universities, which they say hides the fact that women in low socio-economic situations, who may not be able to afford tertiary education, are at much greater risk of violence and abuse[TRIGGER WARNING: Potentially disturbing stylised image of assault]
• In Canada, calls are being made for victims of sexual assaults and other crimes to have broader standing in criminal proceedings 
• In Somaliland, ‘Girls’ Clubs’ are being funded to enable girls to learn and speak out about female genital cutting/mutilation 
• In Turkey, women’s rights organisations feel they have been shut out of the evaluation process for the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the İstanbul Convention
• In Malawi, a senior magistrate has suggested that a lack of education about gender related laws amongst junior court staff is compromising the delivery of justice in gender-based violence cases across the country

Research, Resources and Reports

• The Journal of Adolescent Health has published an article entitled ‘Addressing Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Among Adolescents: Emerging Evidence of Effectiveness’ by Rebecka Lundgren and Avni Amin
• The American Journal of Public Health has published an article entitled ‘Adolescents’ and Adults’ Experiences of Being Surveyed About Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review of Harms, Benefits, and Regrets’
• The journal, Australasian Psychiatry, has published an article entitled ‘What can psychiatrists do to better support victims of family violence?’
• Santi Owen and Kerry Carrington have authored an article entitled ‘Domestic violence (DV) service provision and the architecture of rural life: An Australian case study’, published by the Journal of Rural Studies
• The journal, Violence Against Women, has published an article entitled ‘What Counts? A Mixed-Methods Study to Inform Evaluation of Shelters for Abused Women’
• Amnesty International have published a report entitled Escape from Hell: Torture And Sexual Slavery In Islamic State Captivity In Iraq 

Get Involved!

• Our sister alliance, Equality Rights Alliance, will be hosting a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) consultation to share information and insights on the UPR process, discuss key human rights issues and develop collective strategies ahead of Australia’s upcoming UPR; a workshop session on engaging with international human rights in Australian advocacy; as well as a report back from the National Women’s Alliances in Perth on 22 January 2015

 

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the view of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only.