Welcome to the latest edition of the AWAVA Weekly Round-Up. This week, as the violence against women death toll continues to rise, we are also hearing of the increasing demand experienced by services that support women and children escaping violence. Many telephone counselling, legal support and crisis accommodation services are unable to meet the increasing demands on their services that result from the growing awareness of domestic violence within the community. These services are calling for increased funding to ensure that those at risk of violence can access the services and support they require.
Around the Country
- An 18 year old women has allegedly been murdered by her 22 year old partner in the town of Brewarrina. The incident led community members to hold protests calling for an end to domestic violence and drugs in their town. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence against women, murder]
- A 51 year old women has been killed in the West Sydney suburb of Quakers Hill. Her 46 year old partner of 20 years has been charged with her murder.
- In Western Australia, a new $2 million crisis accommodation centre has started construction in Perth.
- The Queensland Government has launched a new campaign urging people to ‘’trust their instinct” and take action if they think domestic violence is occurring.
- In the Australian Capital Territory, Legal Aid ACT will continue to ramp up its domestic violence services to meet “unprecedented” demand from Canberra victims.
- Across Australia, domestic violence telephone counselling services are unable to keep up with demand and about a quarter of calls are going unanswered. In the ACT, Lifeline is calling for increased funding to ensure they can respond to calls from women and children experiencing domestic violence.
- Women’s rights activists are calling for refuge funding for women who are living in Australia on non-permanent resident visas. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence against women, sexual assault]
- Journalist Jenna Price has questioned why Qantas sacked a staff members for drug use but not for sexual assault. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of sexual assault]
- Journalist John Elder has looked into the experiences of women and children who are escaping domestic violence, but can’t access crisis accommodation. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence against women, domestic violence, sexual assault]
- In New South Wales, the Mayor of Albury, Kevin Mack, has been criticised for suggesting that women who walk alone at night are inviting attacks
- In Victoria, women fleeing violence can only afford to live in one Melbourne suburb.
- Journalist Josh Jennings has analysed the impacts of violent video-games and other media on young children.
Around the World
- In Afghanistan, dozens of men face trail over the mob murder of a 27 year old women who was accused of burning a Koran. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence against women]
- In Fiji, women’s rights activists call for real police action in domestic violence cases. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence against women]
- In the United States, female journalists who have reported on boxer Floyd Mayweather’s history of violence against women have allegedly been banned from attending his fights.
- In the UK, comedian Sandi Toksvig has resigned from her position with BBC Radio to establish the Women’s Equality party
- In Bolivia, cultural change is required to address the countries domestic violence epidemic. [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence against women]
- In The Hague, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom have come together to set a new peace agenda.
Research, Reports and Resources
- Anglicare Australia has released its Rental Affordability Snapshot 2015, which outlines Australia’s affordable housing crisis.
Get Involved!
- Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety is hiring a Senior Research Officer (Project Management) and an Executive Assistant for their Sydney Office. Applications close on 7 May.
- Registrations are open for the YWCA Canberra’s She Leads Conference 2015. The conference will take place in Canberra on 19 May 2015.
- Registration remains open for the Australian PeaceWomen Awards and Women’s Power to Stop War Conference in Canberra on 28-29 May 2015 presented by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).