Happy International Women’s Day Weekly Round-Up 8 March 2016

Happy International Women’s Day to all our friends and supporters! To mark International Women’s Day, we would like to share Celeste Liddle’s insightful piece on the need to ensure that all women’s stories are heard, and that the unique struggles of Aboriginal women are brought to centre stage. As Liddle puts it – ‘A “herstory” in this country will never be complete without the voices of Aboriginal women.’

Around the Country

• Human Rights Commission president, Professor Gillian Triggs, has said that Australia needs a national monitoring program to ensure that coronial recommendations related to domestic violence are implemented.
• Professor Kerry Carrington has conducted research showing that mobile women-only police stations may be the best way forward in responding to violence against women.
• The All About Women Festival took place in Sydney on Sunday, 6 March 2016. Gabrielle Jackson and Monica Tan have written about six key take-home messages from the festival.
• Telstra has recently launched a new mobile app with practical information for users on how to improve their personal mobile safety.
• In the ACT, over 50 Canberra cafés joined a campaign to raise awareness of violence against women this International Women’s Day. Participating cafes served takeaway coffee in special cups featuring messages about respectful relationships.
• In Tasmania, Hobart-based designer and artist Sonia Heap is using an art fashion performance to raise money and increase awareness of the impact of family and domestic violence.

Around the World

• Government representatives and civil society groups around the world are preparing for the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting in New York. Australia’s engagement with CSW is profiled here.
• In Pakistan, a new documentary ‘Posheeda Qadam’ (Hidden Footsteps) addresses domestic and cyber violence against women in South Asia.
• In India, a new internet platform aims to demystify feminism and amplify the voices of marginalised groups in order to generate a discussion about intersecting forms of oppression.
• In PNG, victims of gender based violence are being sent back to abusive households due to a lack of support services, including legal and housing services.

Get Involved!

• Marai Larasi and Prof Rashida Manjoo have been announced as keynote speakers for the AWAVA/ Our Watch international conference on violence against women (19 to 22 September 2016). Find out more and sign on for email updates at our new website!
• The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is conducting research on domestic and family violence and its impact on parenting. Participation involves an interview with a senior researcher, usually over the phone. Please call 1800 720 142 (free using a landline, rates apply with a mobile) or email [email protected] for more information.
• ANROWS invites applications for funding under the Perpetrator Interventions Research Stream which closes 28 April 2016.
• Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE) presents ‘Cabaret Double Bill’ to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event will be held in Prahran, Melbourne on Thursday 10 March.
• Women’s Legal Services NSW is holding one day face-to-face seminars on Women and the Law. The first seminar in the series will be held on 16 March and will explore the law surrounding domestic violence. Register here!
• Domestic Violence Crisis Centre ACT is holding its annual ball on 19 March 2016 in Canberra. Register here!
• Our member organisation, Ruby Gaea, is running a campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is held every April. The goal of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about sexual violation, and to educate communities and individuals about how to prevent sexual assault. This Awareness Month, Ruby Gaea is encouraging the community to take action and organise an event at your school or workplace on the International Day of Action on April 5. For more information or ideas on events, please contact Ruby Gaea’s education team on [email protected] or 08 8945 0155.
• 1800 Resect is running a webinar titled, ‘Understanding the complexities in LGBTIQ domestic and family violence’ on April 21 at 1pm AEST. Register here!
• The Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) invites individuals interested in presenting at the 21st NNVAWI conference to submit presentation abstracts. The theme of the conference is ‘Strengthening healthcare systems to promote safety and health of women and families’ and will be held on 26, 27 and 28 October. Submit abstracts by 1 April here!