The harms inflicted by domestic violence often do not end after separation or divorce. Long after a violent relationship has ceased, women can continue to suffer from mental and physical health problems while having to face homelessness and poverty. A common form of abuse within violent relationships, financial abuse sometimes continues beyond separation as well. This week ANROWS released Domestic Violence and Women’s Economic Security: Building Australia’s Capacity for Prevention and Redress, a report highlighting the financial abuse of women and opportunities to better address the economic harms caused by violence. Similarly, a study conducted by Elizabeth Branigan for the Coburg Brunswick Community Legal and Financial Counselling Centre in 2015 outlined magnitude of damage caused by financial abuse. In ’His Money or Our Money?’ Financial Abuse of Women in Intimate Partner Relationships, she points out that its “recognition is fundamental to an understanding of the often deeply hidden ways that patriarchal relationships continue to disadvantage women and children.” Both reports show how a range of legal, corporate and income support systems perpetuate the effects of financial abuse and work against women’s economic empowerment, and both identify key steps for their reform.
- An Australian Institute of Family Studies study into the effects of family violence on parenting has found that a ‘Disney Dad’ phenomenon places women in the disadvantaged position of carrying the burden of day to day expenses and responsibility of children while ex-partners lavish children with gifts during contacts to win loyalty and allegiance.
- Research has found a link between the density of poker machines in a suburb and levels of domestic violence.
- In Victoria, university students have created “If These Walls Could Talk”, an exhibition in which body paint was used to camouflage the bodies of 24 models against different wallpapers to symbolise the lack of voice, fear and shame that women subjected to domestic violence feel.
- Also in Victoria, controversy has emerged over the government’s Respectful Relationships curriculum, with the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) urging the Minister for Education James Merlino to remove web links and resources that the ACL deems inappropriate for children.
- Caitlin Overington has written about CCTV footage being used as evidence in court proceeding about cases of violence against women, noting that such evidence can help with convictions, but that reliance on it also entails risks.
- The Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has commissioned a study to on violence against women and girls in 15 counties within Liberia.
- In Canada, the Edmonton International Women’s Day Committee has staged a Take Back the Night march and rally through downtown streets to oppose violence against women.
- In Colombia, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have initiated talks on how to rework the peace deal that would end the civil war. Columbian feminists have expressed the need for the progressive inclusion of women’s issues especially gender-based violence in formulating the new accord.
- The Office of the Attorney General has released the Family Law Council’s final report on Families with Complex Needs and the Intersection of the Family Law and Child Protection Systems. Delivered to government in June 2016 and now published, the report focuses on enhancing collaboration between the family law system and other support services engaged in child protection, including mental health, family violence, drug and alcohol, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and migrant services. Access the report here.
- In the United States, the National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs has released a report on hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected people in the US. A program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, the research confirmed that hate violence in its various forms is far too commonly inflicted upon LGBTQ people and people with HIV in the US.
- The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women will be held in Brisbane on 27 and 28 October 2016, to review progress and profile best practice in efforts to make Australia safer for women and their children. Online roundtables are open now, enabling submissions and comments from people who are unable to attend in person. Visit the Summit website to register and take part.
- The Domestic Violence Resource Centre of Victoria has updated its infographic poster presenting the latest statistics on family violence in Victoria and Australia. Download the poster here.
- The Office for Women is inviting applications from civil society to be part of the Australian Government delegation to the 61st session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) to be held in New York from13-24 March 2017. The due date for applications has been extended and will now close 11:59pm AEDST Sunday 30 October 2016. For more information visit the Office for Women’s website here.
- WESNET is hosting the Inaugural Technology Safety Summit in Sydney on 21 November 2016. This one-day conference will focus on the various complex issues and concerns that come from the intersection of technology and domestic and sexual violence, and stalking. The Tech Summit will bring together those working with women and their children experiencing violence and other stakeholders from government and corporate Australia. Attendees of the Tech Summit will learn how technology can be misused as a tactic of abuse, how women experiencing gender-based violence can use technology to improve their safety and privacy, how digital evidence can be collected to hold perpetrators accountable, and how agencies can strengthen policies and practices to improve service delivery, and what other support technology and telecommunications companies can provide. To find out more and register please visit the conference website. Early bird rates close on 21 October.
- Lucy’s Project is inviting everyone to join the “Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse-International Perspectives, Conference 2016”, which will be held from 5-6 of November at the Portside Conference Centre, near Wynyard Station, Sydney CBD. Click here to book tickets.
- FECCA is hiring a Communications Advisor for a one year full-time contract until 30 June 2017 with possibility of extension. Click here for more information.
- The National Rural Women’s Coalition Ltd is calling for expressions of interest for the role of Independent Director for a period of two years commencing 24th of November 2016. To apply or for more information email [email protected].
- The National Rural Women’s Coalition is launching “Brave Danny” a picture book for children on 24th November from 5-7 pm at Melbourne Ether Conference Centre, 265 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. The book was written by Robin Adolps for children and illustrated by Nicky Johnston. For more information, contact [email protected].
- Across Australia (and elsewhere) Reclaim the Night marches are held on the last Friday in October, to protest violence against women and their children, particularly sexual violence, and to re-assert our right to be safe in public spaces. This year marches will be on Friday 28 October. Check your networks and social media for details about local events. Marches will be held in Brisbane,Canberra(organising led by our member organisation Canberra Rape Crisis Centre), Darwin (organised by our member Ruby Gaea Centre against Sexual Violence), Alice Springs and no doubt elsewhere!
- The Adelaide White Ribbon Breakfast will be held on 25 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 6:45 am to 9:00 am. The guest speaker will be the honourable Marcia Neave, chair of the recent Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. Book here.
- The University of Melbourne has created a website called ‘NotTheOnlyOne’where women can anonymously read and share stories about experiencing family and domestic violence.
- The National Multicultural Women’s Conference will be held on 3 and 4 November 2016 in Parkroyal Parramatta, Sydney. Find out more here.
- Soroptomist International Australia is sponsoring the Rosie Batty Roadshow from 5 October to 7 November 2016, travelling from Brisbane to Sydney, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide. Proceeds will go to the Women’s Legal Services in each capital that Rosie will visit. To buy your tickets click here.