Welcome to this week’s round up of news about preventing and responding to violence against women. On Thursday last week, the Government released the Women’s Safety Package to Stop The Violence. The $100m package includes funding for school anti-violence programs, steps towards using technology for women’s safety, and expansion of ‘safe at home’ programs. While AWAVA welcomes this announcement, we reiterate our call for adequate resourcing for the full range of programs and services needed to support women. Read our media release here for more detailed comments on the recent announcements.
Around the Country
- Fiona McCormack, CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria and a member of our advisory group, has written an open letter to the Prime Minister on steps he can take to address domestic and family violence.
- Josephine Cashman, chairwoman of the Community Safety Committee of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, has said that domestic violence offenders should face mandatory jail time like one-punch offenders.
- In a recent article in the Brisbane Times, women who were abused during pregnancy have spoken out about their experiences. [This article contains graphic depictions of domestic violence that may be distressing]
- Women experiencing violence are crossing the border from Queensland into NSW since most Gold Coast police stations are shut over weekends.
- In the ACT, Attorney General Simon Corbell has proposed reforms which, if passed, will strengthen domestic violence orders.
- In Victoria, a study conducted by VicHealth has found that young Victorians between the age of 16 and 24 hold concerning views on domestic violence, with a quarter of respondents prepared to excuse violence for reasons such as inability to control anger.
- In South Australia, Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, Michael O’Connell, spoke about the significant gaps in support services for children affected by domestic violence at a recent victims’ support service symposium.
Around the World
- In Canada, women’s issues were discussed by party leaders in an election debate for the first time in 30 years, during a panel discussion organised by Up for Debate.
- In Cambodia, young women are using technology apps to challenge entrenched views on domestic violence and inform women of their rights.
- In New York, news beds will be added to emergency and the transitional shelters for victims of domestic violence for the first time since 2009.
Get Involved!
- AWAVA wants your feedback on our weekly round-up! We are looking to improve our newsletter format and would love to hear your views on what you would like to see in our round-up. Send us an email on [email protected] with ‘FEEDBACK’ as the subject!
- 1800 Respect is holding a webinar on understanding violence against women with disabilities on 1 October. Register 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 Asia Pacific Professional Organisation Ltd’s ANZ | Papua New Guinea Gender Parity Symposium will be held from 12 to 15 October in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra. More information and tickets here.
- The Festival of THE Rural Woman, a free online global event, is running from 12 to 15 October 2015. Register here!
- The Canberra Community Sleepout will be held on 16 October 2015. Find out how you can get involved and help raise awareness about homelessness in Canberra!
- Women’s Legal Service Victoria is holding an interactive workshop to assist support workers better understand the Family Violence Protection Act on 20 October in Melbourne. Register here.
- The 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters will be held in The Hague from 3 to 6 November 2015. More information here!