We have great news from Victoria this week! The Victorian government has agreed to implement every single recommendation made in the report of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which was released last Wednesday. The report, consisting of eight volumes, details 227 recommendations aimed at making systemic changes to family violence response and prevention mechanisms. Amongst many promising measures, the report recommends compulsory domestic violence training for staff such as police, doctors and educators, more coordinated responses to housing shortages for women escaping violence, and specialist domestic violence courts and magistrates. The report emphasises a “whole of community” and “whole of government” response, calling for collaboration between services and government, specifically through the establishment of 17 family violence Support and Safety hubs. Follow this link for a brief summary of the report. The full report can be found here.
Around the Country
- The final report of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children is now available. COAG has given in-principle support to the six areas identified for further joint action, including national leadership to challenge gender inequality and transform community attitudes, and providing trauma-informed responses to violence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- The Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (WGAR) has compiled a list of sources on the implications of the Royal Commission recommendations for Aboriginal women and communities.
- Jess Hill, recipient of the 2015 Our Watch Gold Award for reporting on violence against women has written about the role of the media in responsible domestic violence reporting.
- Non-profit organisation Share the Dignity and tampon company Cottons have launched a new initiative which involves printing the contact details of domestic violence support line 1800RESPECT on the inside of tampon boxes.
- The Australian Bankers’ Association has committed to undertake measures which ensure that customers living with family violence have improved access to finances in emergency situations.
- In Victoria, hundreds of men are on waiting lists for men’s behaviour change programs since demand for services far exceeds availability.
- In Queensland, the University of Queensland Union held a Pay Gap Bake Sale as part of ‘Feminist Week’ on Tuesday, April 5. The Bake Sale, which will charge customers the proportion of $1 that they are likely to earn comparative to men, has faced significant backlash for allegedly being discriminatory towards men. For commentary, read Angela Priestley’s piece in Women’s Agenda, highlighting why criticisms of the bake sale are unfounded.
Around the World
- Apple software Siri now provides a link to the National Sexual Assault Hotline in the US when responding to questions about sexual assault.
- In Mexico, the government is urging broadcasters, websites and social media users to ban a music video by Gerardo Ortíz that promotes violence against women. [This article contains content that may be distressing to some readers]
- Read online media platform Open Democracy’s series on debates from this year’s Commission on the Status of Women
Get Involved!
- The ACT Office for Women has opened nominations for the ACT Violence Prevention Awards. For more information, follow this link. Nominations close at 5pm on 26 April 2016.
- Marai Larasi and Prof Rashida Manjoo will be the 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 website!
- The University of Melbourne has created a website called “Not The Only One” where women can anonymously read and share stories about experiencing family and domestic violence.
- Next week (April 10 -16) is International Anti-Street Harassment Week. Click here to find out how you can get involved!
- ANROWS invites applications for funding under the Perpetrator Interventions Research Stream, closing on 28 April 2016
- 1800RESPECT is running a webinar titled, ‘Understanding the complexities in LGBTIQ domestic and family violence’ on April 21 at 1pm AEST. Register here!
- The 2nd Annual Men’s Behaviour Change Network NSW Conference will be held at the Rydges Sydney Central Hotel on 4 and 5 May 2016. Register here by 8 April!
- 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. The deadline for abstracts has now been postponed to 15 April. Find out more here!