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Senate votes against a measure to increase court fees for divorce cases and more* Weekly Round-Up 26 June

Welcome to the latest edition of the AWAVA Weekly Round-Up. This week, the number of women who have lost their lives to violence has increased to 47. This highlights the urgent need for action to address ever increasing levels of violence against women. AWAVA is pleased that further steps are being taken to ensure women’s right to safety and security is upheld. This week the Senator Michaelia Cash, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women and Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, opened the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity’s first national roundtable. The roundtable will help establish a framework for judges and legal practitioners to deal with matters in a culturally sensitive manner, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds feel safe in their dealings with the justice system. We are looking forward to further developments in this space!

Around the country

In Victoria, a recent study by the Domestic Violence Resource Centre has found that almost 98 per cent of domestic violence victims also experience cyber stalking and other forms of technology based abuse.
Also in Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Services has raised concerns about Victoria’s domestic violence response in a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
In Queensland, researchers are to begin a study into women-only police stations, inspired by similar institutions in South America.
In Western Australia, the state’s specialised domestic violence court system is being replaced by the Victorian mode. Under the new mode perpetrators will no longer be able to choose whether they are dealt with in specialised courts, and hence will not be able avoid sentencing in return for treatment.
The Senate has voted against a measure that would see court fees for divorce applications increase from July 1.
The Women’s Legal Service Queensland has developed a free smartphone app called Re-focus for women who are separated or thinking of separation in Australia.
Fiona McCormack, CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria, has discussed the nature and extent of domestic violence and what needs to be done to achieve a just society in this speech.
Dr Fitz-Gibbon, an emerging expert in international law, has received a research grant to explore innovating legal responses to lethal domestic violence.

Around the World

In the Pacific, UN Women has announced the launch of a new tool kit for organisations in the anti-violence against women sector.
In Ireland, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has strongly recommended that the government strengthen its response to protect victims of domestic violence.
In Latin America, a social media campaign featuring the hashtag #NiUnaMenos (not one less) has attracted attention to issues surrounding violence against women in the region.
In India, seven special police units will be set up in the state of Odisha to address crimes against women.
The UN has recognised 19 June as the International Day against Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Get involved!

We’re Hiring! AWAVA is looking for a new Program Manager to lead our Canberra Secretariat. Applications are due on 10 July.
Attend theAustralia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety’s upcoming webinar on engaging with practitioners and maintaining partnerships in the sector, to be held on July 2 at 1pm AEST.
The Women’s Legal Service Victoria is holding an interactive workshop on July 14 to improve workers’ knowledge of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act (VOCAT). Register here by July 7!
The Women’s Legal Service Victoria is also hosting a lecture series titled ‘Walking the Walk: Next Steps Against Family Violence’ on July 2. Register here!
Australian’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety is recruiting! ANROWS is looking for a Conference Coordinator to oversee the facilitation of their National Research Conference in February 2016.
If you are a young woman aged 16 – 21, join the conversation on young women and sex education by completing this survey designed by the Equality Rights’ Alliance.
YWCA Queensland is calling for applications for its inaugural Leadership Internship. Applications close on 31 July 2015.

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

“Torture is a crime under international law. According to all relevant instruments, it is absolutely prohibited and cannot be justified under any circumstances. This prohibition forms part of customary international law, which means that it is binding on every member of the international community, regardless of whether a State has ratified international treaties in which torture is expressly prohibited. The systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity.

On 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, (resolution 39/46), annex, which entered into force on 26 June 1987.”

For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/en/events/torturevictimsday/

Weekly Round-up**

Welcome to the latest edition of the AWAVA Weekly Round-Up. This week the 5 National Women’s Alliancescame together to reflect on our work throughout the last year, to celebrate our achievements and to plan for the year to come. AWAVA would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our sister Alliances the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance, the Equality Rights Alliance, Economic Security4Women and the National Rural Women’s Coalition on their achievements throughout the year! We look forward to continuing to work together over the coming year and into the future!
AWAVA Representatives with the Minister Assisting the
Prime Minister for Women,Senator Michaelia Cash.

Heidi Guldbaek, Sophie Hardefeldt, Margaret Augerinos, Senator Michaelia Cash, Julie Oberin, Bonney Corbin and Jude Marshall.

Around the Country

Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, has launched her new campaign, Never Alone, which aims to address the epidemic of family violence.
In the ACT, domestic violence experts have called for the creation of a specialised domestic violence court with a dedicated magistrate.
In Queensland, the State Government Minister for Women, Shannon Fentimen, has announced her government’s decision to join Our Watch – a commonwealth funded national organisation responsible for raising awareness of violence against women and advancing prevention efforts.
In NSW, Gosford will host the first annual Walk the Talk March on Sunday as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Week.
According to Homelessness Australia, an extra $68 million in government funding is needed each year to ensure housing for victims of domestic violence.
Domestic violence Survivor Lani Brennan has shared her story of domestic violence and encounters with the justice system.
[TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of domestic violence, sexual assault]
In the ACT, the family of Tara Costigan, who was allegedly killed by her former partner in February this year, launched the Tara Costigan Foundation on Sunday to tackle violence against women.
University of Queensland Law Professor, Heather Douglas, will lead a team of researchers to develop a domestic violence legal response tool kit for judges across Australia.
The Human Rights Law Centre has made a submission to Victoria’s Royal Commission into family violence, highlighting the need for an integrated approach that addresses violence against women at the individual and structural level.

AWAVA has made a submission to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. The Submission makes recommendations to the Council of Australian Governments relating to The implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Access to Justice for women and children experiencing violence, Housing and Homelessness policy and funding, Responding to Technology Assisted Abuse, Education Reform and Targeted Funding for Family Violence and Specialist Women’s Services.

For more information please download the full submission here:

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

“The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN’s commitment to protect the rights of children.”

For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/en/events/childvictimday/

Media Release: Federal Budget delivers no relief for women and children experiencing violence

AWAVA has joined with other key women’s organisations to respond to the release of the Federal Government’s 2015-16 budget and assess the funding allocations for anti-violence against women initiatives.

Read our Joint Press Release – Federal Budget delivers no relief for women and children experiencing violence.

This site is being archived soon. Visit wesnet.org.au for more information.

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