Welcome to this week’s round-up! Every week, we provide you with links detailing developments in the responding to violence against women sector over the past week. This week, we have encouraging news from Tasmania, where the government has promised $25.6 million in funding for a state-wide family violence plan. The plan includes efforts to improve crisis support, legal responses to domestic violence and community awareness programs. AWAVA is delighted to see that the Tasmania Government is committed to addressing women’s safety. We will be updating you on the implementation of the program so keep an eye out for our newsletters!
Around the country
- Child protection and domestic violence experts are advocating for children to have more of a say in settling custody matters in the Family Court. The issue has gained much needed media attention following a letter written to The Sunday Telegraph by a 14 year old victim of domestic violence.[Trigger Warning: descriptions of domestic violence]
- Brain Injury Australia has found that three women per week are being hospitalised for brain injuries resulting from domestic violence.
- In the ACT, the government has promised $75 000 in funding to the Women’s Services Network to train frontline domestic violence workers in responding to technological abuse.
- Also in the ACT, the government has responded to a report from Domestic Violence Prevention Council, agreeing to all 33 recommendations made in the report in some form.
- Again in the ACT, experts have welcomed proposals to establish a specialist domestic violence court. However, they have also expressed concerns about loss of funding to other services and other unintended consequences that may follow.
- In NSW, the government has announced that it will be conducting a review of domestic violence sentencing.
- The Royal Commission into Family Violence has heard that funding for an initiative providing free legal help to patients at the Royal Women’s Hospital will run out by June 2016.
- General Practitioner, Kelsey Hegarty, has told the Royal Commission that ongoing trauma experienced by family violence victims has led to victims being deemed psychologically unstable in court, thereby undermining their position in child custody cases.
- Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, emphasised the importance of early school based prevention programs in a submission made to the Royal Commission.
Around the World
- 193 governments have come together in formulating the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which places significant emphasis on empowering girls and women.
- In India, the Universities Grants Council has instructed all universities to establish a separate department to address sexual assault cases and gender sensitisation programs.
- In Botswana, the Botswana Congress Party Women’s League has urged the government to sign the South African Development Community (SADC) Gender Protocol.
- In Uganda, Archbishop Lwanga has called on the government to implement the Domestic Violence Act that was passed in 2010.
Research, Reports and Resources
- Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has recently released a state of knowledge paper titled ‘Building effective policies and services to promote women’s economic security following domestic violence’.
Get Involved!
- YWCA Canberra is looking for a Communications and Advocacy Officer. Apply here!
- The Women’s World Summit Foundation’s new campaign – 17 Days of Activism for the Empowerment of Rural Women and their Communities – begins on 1 October 2015. More information here!
- The 2015 National Indigenous Domestic Violence Conference will be held on 7 October 2015 in Carrara, Queensland.
- The Canberra Community Sleepout will be held on 16 October 2015. Find out here how you can get involved and help combat homelessness in Canberra!
- The Family Violence Has No Boundaries: Cultural Diversity and Prevention National Conference has been rescheduled to 26 and 27 October 2015.
- The 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters will be held in The Hague from 3 – 6 November 2015. More information here!
- Ask LOIS (Legal Online Information Service) is a free online service, providing legal information to community workers assisting women in NSW. Find out more about upcoming webinars on various legal issues on their website.