Federal MP, Cathy McGowan, introduces private member’s bill to stop cross-examining by alleged abusers and more* Weekly Round-Up 26 October 2015  

Around the Country

• Rosie Batty and the Australian Medical Association have announced a new campaign, focusing on child victims of domestic violence.
• The government has recently proposed cuts to family tax benefits under the family payments plan. The plan is yet to pass the senate. Read a joint statement from the National Foundation of Australian Women, Equality Rights Alliance and Economic Security for Women on the impact of the changes on women.
• A Senate committee has heard that none of the 14 cases of sexual assault reported on Manus Island in the past 18 months have led to prosecutions.
• In Queensland, representatives from women’s refuges wrote an open letter to the Queensland government, asking for more funding. In response to this, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that more refuge space is likely to be made available.
• Again in Queensland, a play about women’s real life experiences of domestic violence, called ‘It All Begins With Love’ premiered on 22 October.
• In WA, a parliamentary committee has examined how WA Police evaluate their performance in dealing with domestic violence.
• In Tasmania, the North-West of the state will receive funding for new legal and support services, with Women’s Legal Services Tasmania receiving $1.05 million over three years. North-West Tasmania has been identified as one of the 12 areas where the federal government will be setting up integrated domestic violence units.

Around the world

• In the UK, feminist activists and academics have written to Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, urging him to openly condemn increasing violence against women in India, in light of his decision to visit the UK next month.
• In Zimbabwe, the Harare City Council and United Nations Population Fund launched a 24 hour sexual and gender-based violence clinic which will provide free emergency care.
• In Ghana, the Domestic Violence Secretariat has launched the Gender-Based Violence Response Centre for women who work in markets.

Research, reports, and resources

• Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has recently launched a research paper, titled ‘Violence Against Women in Australia: Additional Analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012’. Find the research report and practice paper here.

Get involved!

• The Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, in conjunction with Our Watch, supported by Women’s Services Network, invite you to attend an international conference on violence against women. The conference will be held from 19-22 September 2016. More information here!
• The 3^rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters will be held in The Hague from 3 to 6 November 2015. More information here!
• Lucy’s Project is hosting a conference on domestic violence and animal abuse from 6 – 8 November 2015, in Byron Bay. More information here!
• Domestic Violence Action Centre Gala Cocktail party will be held on Monday, 23 November in Ipswich, Queensland. Register here!
• Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research and ANROWS are conducting a national survey relating to the enforcement of domestic violence protections orders in Australia. Complete the survey here by 30 November 2015.
• Economic Security For Women (es4w) is conducting an online survey on women’s views on our economic empowerment; our ability to cope with changing conditions in the economy; our participation in paid work and our income in later life and into retirement. Complete the survey here.
• The 21^st Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International Conference 2016 will be held from 26-28 October 2016. More information here!