Welcome to the latest edition of the AWAVA Weekly Round-Up. This week, the number of women who have lost their lives to violence has increased to 47. This highlights the urgent need for action to address ever increasing levels of violence against women. AWAVA is pleased that further steps are being taken to ensure women’s right to safety and security is upheld. This week the Senator Michaelia Cash, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women and Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, opened the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity’s first national roundtable. The roundtable will help establish a framework for judges and legal practitioners to deal with matters in a culturally sensitive manner, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds feel safe in their dealings with the justice system. We are looking forward to further developments in this space!
Around the country
- In Victoria, a recent study by the Domestic Violence Resource Centre has found that almost 98 per cent of domestic violence victims also experience cyber stalking and other forms of technology based abuse.
- Also in Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Services has raised concerns about Victoria’s domestic violence response in a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
- In Queensland, researchers are to begin a study into women-only police stations, inspired by similar institutions in South America.
- In Western Australia, the state’s specialised domestic violence court system is being replaced by the Victorian mode. Under the new mode perpetrators will no longer be able to choose whether they are dealt with in specialised courts, and hence will not be able avoid sentencing in return for treatment.
- The Senate has voted against a measure that would see court fees for divorce applications increase from July 1.
- The Women’s Legal Service Queensland has developed a free smartphone app called Re-focus for women who are separated or thinking of separation in Australia.
- Fiona McCormack, CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria, has discussed the nature and extent of domestic violence and what needs to be done to achieve a just society in this speech.
- Dr Fitz-Gibbon, an emerging expert in international law, has received a research grant to explore innovating legal responses to lethal domestic violence.
Around the World
- In the Pacific, UN Women has announced the launch of a new tool kit for organisations in the anti-violence against women sector.
- In Ireland, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has strongly recommended that the government strengthen its response to protect victims of domestic violence.
- In Latin America, a social media campaign featuring the hashtag #NiUnaMenos (not one less) has attracted attention to issues surrounding violence against women in the region.
- In India, seven special police units will be set up in the state of Odisha to address crimes against women.
- The UN has recognised 19 June as the International Day against Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Get involved!
- We’re Hiring! AWAVA is looking for a new Program Manager to lead our Canberra Secretariat. Applications are due on 10 July.
- Attend theAustralia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety’s upcoming webinar on engaging with practitioners and maintaining partnerships in the sector, to be held on July 2 at 1pm AEST.
- The Women’s Legal Service Victoria is holding an interactive workshop on July 14 to improve workers’ knowledge of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act (VOCAT). Register here by July 7!
- The Women’s Legal Service Victoria is also hosting a lecture series titled ‘Walking the Walk: Next Steps Against Family Violence’ on July 2. Register here!
- Australian’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety is recruiting! ANROWS is looking for a Conference Coordinator to oversee the facilitation of their National Research Conference in February 2016.
- If you are a young woman aged 16 – 21, join the conversation on young women and sex education by completing this survey designed by the Equality Rights’ Alliance.
- YWCA Queensland is calling for applications for its inaugural Leadership Internship. Applications close on 31 July 2015.