AWAVA Secretariat, Author at AWAVA

“31 October 2014: Women unite, reclaim the night! Not Silent ! Not Violent ! My little black dress does not mean yes!

Despite the massive advances in equality the women’s movement has brought us, one issue where the statistics never seem to change is that of sexual violence. 1 in 3 women will experience sexual violence in her life, and while abhorrent these statistics aren’t surprising when we live in a culture that so brutally objectifies and dehumanises women. This level of violence is an epidemic and it has to stop. We need a government that will fully fund all services related to the issue, from shelters and counseling services to proper consent education and support for vulnerable women.

But it won’t just be handed to us. The history of the women’s movement has shown we have to make demands and fight for every advance. Violence and the oppression of women are not inherent to human nature, they absolutely can be stopped. But we need strength in numbers to combat such an overwhelming issue. With all eyes on Brisbane for the G20 – Let’s make the people who can impact these issues stand up and take notice of such an important yet rarely spoken about topic. No one likes talking about sexual violence – but it starts by having the courage to challenge the culture around you and speaking out.

So come along to Reclaim the Night 2014, bring your placards, noisemakers, banners, friends and most of all your VOICE. Together we will fight and together we can win!

Reclaim the Night will start at Emma Miller Place (located off Roma St) with a rally at 5pm, before marching over Kurilpa Bridge to Kurilpa Park where we will have more speakers and hold a vigil for those lost to gendered violence. We will also be selling cold drinks and tshirts at Kurilpa Park.”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/309797525895764/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

Reclaim the Night March – Canberra

This year, Reclaim the Night in Canberra will be hosted by the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

Location: Garema Place, Canberra
Date: Friday the 31st of October
Time: 6:00pm

This years focus is “Reclaiming our Space.”

Reclaim the Night is a community event that has been held in Canberra for many years. It began as an angry protest against messages women were given by police to stay indoors so as to not be sexually assaulted or murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper (a murderer and rapist in Leeds). News quickly spread and soon Reclaim the Night marches were happening in diverse countries across the world. These days it is a community event to symbolize everyone’s right to be safe in our community.

It is also part of a global movement to raise awareness about sexual assault and its impacts on the community and women, children, young people, families and men. Sexual violence impacts on 1 in three girls and 1 in six boys before the age of 18. 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted across their adult lifetimes. This can result in a long term legacy of shame, silence and self blame for survivors. These impacts can be challenged by increasing our understanding of sexual assault trauma and the harm it can do to people and communities.

Sexual violence also has tremendous impacts on our community through the enormous cost of untreated trauma on our economy. By 2020 the cost of violence against women in Australia is set to top 15.6 billion dollars. International trauma experts predict that the health burden of untreated trauma will soon overtake heart disease and obesity as the largest issue for governments and communities to respond to.

Survivors of sexual violence(particularly child sexual assault) are over represented in all of our systems at rates of 90% for women, and 70% for men. These systems include mental health, prisons, homelessness services, drug and alcohol services.

We hope you can join us to continue to raise awareness about this very important issue.

Weekly Round-Up * 27 October

Welcome to the latest edition of the AWAVA Weekly Round-Up. This week, many of the articles we’ve selected focus on the aftermath of gender-based violence. Violence has complicated and long-lasting effects for female survivors as well as for the broader community. To truly acknowledge the structural impacts and causes of violence against women, we must value and consider the perspectives of people from all sectors of our communities.

Around the Country

MPs Tim Watts, Andrew Broad and Ken Wyatt have launched a new group, Parliamentarians Against Family Violence, to help members of parliament learn more about the issue
[TRIGGER WARNING: Description of violence, death]
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has been named Australia’s most influential woman
Evidence has been presented by a number of organisations about the unique challenges faced by women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who experience domestic violence [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence, violence against children]
The inquest into the murder of Luke Batty has received extensive media coverage [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of violence, threats]
New comprehensive research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the divergent approaches from the AFL and the NRL to preventing violence against women
The dispersed, international nature of the ‘gamergate’ movement has caused difficulties for Australian women in the video game community seeking assistance after receiving threats

Around the World

Misogynistic ‘Men’s Rights’ group A Voice for Men has launched a deceptive website claiming to represent the White Ribbon campaign as collect donations while providing dangerous and sexist misinformation about gender-based violence
In Nigeria, dozens more young women have been kidnapped by Boko Haram despite reports that a cease-fire deal had been made
Wazhma Frogh, founder of the Research Institute for Women Peace and Security in Afghanistan, has written about the growing freedom and engagement of Afghan women
In Tunisia, substantive equality and safety for women are slow in following what are considered advanced legal protections for women’s rights
In South Africa, Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment and will be eligible to apply for house arrest after 10 months
In Hawaii, hundreds of men have joined in the 20^th anniversary Men’s March Against Domestic Violence
YouTuber Laci Green has spoken about her involvement in calling out fellow YouTuber Sam Pepper for indecently assaulting women in his videos
There has been a large amount of online backlash about the possible use of sexual assault as a plot device on the television series Reign
In Iceland, participants at the conference ‘Zero Tolerance: Seminar on Actions to Prevent Gender-based Violence’ have discussed strategies to address structural causes of gender-based violence across the Nordic region

Research, Resources and Reports

Psychologist Nina Burrowes has created a video with advice for people whose friends or family have disclosed their experience of sexual abuse

Get Involved!

Reclaim the Night marches are taking place around the country at the end of this month, including in Sydney and Canberra

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the view of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children

On 15 February 2011 the Australia Government published Safe and Free from Violence – The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-22 (The National Plan), outlining a 12-year strategy to address domestic and sexual violence by coordinating action across all Australian governments and communities. The National Plan is based on four three-year rolling Action Plans.

AWAVA commends the Commonwealth Government for its release of the National Plan and for its leadership in addressing Australia’s violence against women epidemic. We are particularly encouraged by the National Plan’s strong focus on prevention, which is fundamental for the prevention of gender-based violence. The National Plan has a long term focus – building respectful relationships and working to increase gender equality to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.

The vision of the National Plan: Australian women and their children live free from violence in safe communities

National Plan Target: a significant and sustained reduction in violence against women and their children,’ during the next 12 years, from 2010 to 2022

National Outcomes:

Communities are safe and free from violence
Relationships are respectful
Indigenous communities are strengthened
Services meet the needs of women and their children experiencing violence
Justice responses are effective; and
Perpetrators stop their violence and are held to account

Key initiatives under the National Plan include:

established a 24-hour telephone counselling hotline 1800 RESPECT, to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
launched a social marketing campaign, The Line, which encourages young people to develop healthy, respectful relationships
Established Our Watch to drive nation-wide change in the culture, behaviours and attitudes that lead to violence against women and children
Established Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, which is responsible for delivering relevant and translatable research evidence which drives policy and practice leading to a reduction in the levels of violence against women and their children
increased support for frontline workers and rewards States and Territories when they promote best practice perpetrator intervention

National Plan Links:

Second Action Plan: Moving Ahead 2013-2016

Brochure: The Second Action Plan

Fact sheet: How the Second Action Plan helps Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women

Fact sheet: How the Second Action Plan helps Women with Disability

Fact sheet: How the Second Action Plan helps Indigenous Women

Translated versions of the Second Action Plan Brochure and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse fact sheet can be found here.

Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

What is CEDAW?

The United Nations Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, is an international treaty that Australia is signatory to. Many countries around the world, including Australia, signed on to this convention and agreed to try and implement mechanisms in their country to eliminate discrimination against women.

What does it aim to achieve?

The convention aims to:

• Eliminate discrimination against women

• Achieve substantive equality

• Take action in both the public and private spheres

• Take action in all areas of women’s lives

• Take action for all women

Although violence against women is not specifically included, it is referenced in the CEDAW general recommendations 12 (1989) & 19 (1992) and covered in many of the CEDAW articles (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16)

How are countries held to account?

As a signatory to the Convention, the United Nation requires each country to prepare a report around every 4 years about how the government has been implementing policies and programs to meet the conventions requirements. There is a Government report, and a Shadow Report which is prepared by NGOs. The UN CEDAW Committee reviews these and prepares a report back to each country outlining how it is progressing and makes recommendations on areas for improvement.

When was Australia last reviewed?

In July 2010 the UN CEDAW Committee reviewed the Australian Government’s compliance with CEDAW and how Australia has implemented the treaty into its laws and policies. The committee made two specific recommendations for actions on violence against women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, in its Concluding Observations and requested an update on progress at the 2-year mark, prior to a full review in 2014. The Australian Government has to report back to the CEDAW committee on its progress on these two areas (paragraph 29 and 41) by July 2012

For more information about the 2010 review of Australia and the CEDAW Committee’s other recommendations please see the Australian NGO CEDAW Action Plan.

Why submit an NGO report?

The NGO report provides additional information and an alternative view to the CEDAW Committee when it considers Australia’s response to its recommendations.

The diagram below developed by the Kingsford Legal Centre outlines the CEDAW process and time-frames:

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Commission on the Status of Women

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. It is an internationally agreed plan for achieving equality for women across 12 critical areas – poverty, education and training, health, the economy, power and decision-making, human rights, armed conflict, institutional mechanisms, the environment, violence against women and the girl child.

Following the 1995 Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women, the United Nations General Assembly mandated the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to integrate into its program a follow-up process to the Conference, regularly reviewing the critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action and to develop its role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in United Nations activities.

The CSW meets annually in February/March in New York and is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. The meeting is attended by representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited NGO’s from all regions of the world.

More information on the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action can be found here.

More Information on the Commission on the Status of Women can be found here.

Weekly Round-Up * 20 October

Welcome to the latest edition of the AWAVA Weekly Round-Up. This week, we highlight news and articles that reflect on men’s violence against women and its place in our society. In order to eliminate men’s violence against women, it is crucial to examine not only individual incidents of gender-based violence, but also the structures, patterns and attitudes in our communities that perpetuate violence and send the message to perpetrators that their actions are acceptable. Sadly, these underlying factors are pervasive, however identifying them is the first step to creating safer and more equal communities for both women and men.

Around the Country

Representatives from AWAVA gave evidence about current efforts to prevent male violence against women at the second Public Hearing of the Senate Inquiry into domestic violence in Canberra on Wednesday 15 October
During the Public Hearing, AWAVA and Women’s Services Network chairwoman Julie Oberin presented information on the increasing rates of technology being used to stalk and harass women in Australia
[TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of harassment]
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has expressed concern about the levels of consultation with the culturally and linguistically diverse communities of Australia in the design of government programs to address violence against women
University of Sydney Professor Barry Spurr, who was also involved in the recent National Curriculum review, is currently being investigated after racist, sexist and violent emails that he had written were released to the public [TRIGGER WARNING: Racist slurs, description of sexual assault, violence, victim blaming]
In Victoria, Ellen Whinnett calls for the public to consider candidates’ policies on family violence when voting in November
In NSW, the opposition have committed to investigating the establishment of a specialist court for domestic violence and sexual assault cases
On the Sunshine Coast, fundraising is under way for the construction of two specially designed unitsfor victims of domestic violence in need of safe housing
In Victoria, a nightclub has attracted criticism for its use of violent and sexist imagery in an advertisement
Journalist Sarah Macdonald has written about her experience of the changing attitudes toward domestic violence in Australian media
In the lead up to the Coronial Inquest into the death of Luke Batty, Helen Garner has published herprofile of his mother Rosie Batty [TRIGGER WARNING: Description of violence against a child, threats, abuse]
A student at the University of Sydney has spoken publicly about the failure of university administrationto discipline a Resident Liaison who shared a naked image of her that was taken without her consent and to protect her from continuing harassment [TRIGGER WARNING: Descriptions of sexual harassment]

Around the World

Malala Yousafzai has become the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
In Nigeria, the Government is in negotiations with Boko Haram for a ceasefire and the release of the 219 school girls kidnapped several months ago who are still in their custody
In Papua New Guinea, over 1,000 people have rallied following the abduction and assault of three female National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) employees [TRIGGER WARNING: Kidnapping, sexual assault]
In Uganda, police have spoken out about their own experiences of domestic violence and the lack of training and resources they receive to deal with violence against women [TRIGGER WARNING: Images of violence]
Ambassador for Women and Girls Natasha Stott Despoja and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop havevisited India to promote Australia’s international gender equality efforts
In South Sudan, Zainab Bangura, the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Sexual Violence, has described the violence against women and children in the country as the worst she has ever encountered
Almost 40,000 people recently gathered to be part of Argentina’s 29th National Women’s Conferencein Salta
In Uganda, the SASA! Program has demonstrated remarkable results in reducing violence against women by 50% across entire communities
Despite signing on to the Istanbul Convention on eliminating violence against women, rates of domestic violence in Turkey continue to rise [TRIGGER WARNING: image of stylised violence]
Support is steadily falling for #Gamergate, the online group targeting Anita Sarkeesian and otherprominent women in the video game community with harassment and abuse [TRIGGER WARNING: Description of harassment, threats, gun violence]
In Canada, social service providers are reporting increases in cases of violence against women following an amendment to the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act that was designed to deter immigration fraud

Research, Resources and Reports

In ‘Criminal liability of carers in cases of non-accidental death or serious injury of children’, Lenny Roth discusses new legislation being considered in New South Wales
The Australian Parliamentary Library has published ‘Domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia: an overview of the issues’ by Janet Phillips and Penny Vandenbroek
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs in the United States has released their annual report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected: Intimate Partner Violence in 2013
A new international resource, Street Harassment: Know Your Rights, has been developed by Thomson Reuters Foundation, in conjunctions with iHollaback and DLA Piper, to detail women’s rights in relation to street harassment around the world
A researcher in Iceland has concluded that there is absolutely no connection between the number of Muslims in a country and rates of violence against women, instead showing that education and gender equality are key factors

Get Involved!

Consultation dates for Australia’s upcoming review by the UN Human Rights Council have now been set for Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra
The Office for Women is now calling for applications from individuals and representatives of non-government organisations who are interested in being considered for inclusion as an NGO delegate on the official Australian Government delegation to the 59th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the view of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only.

Reclaim The Night March – Melbourne

“6:30pm – 8:00pm

Theme: 35 years light the night #lightthenight #rtn

Join us in protest against all forms of male violence and harassment against women for the 35th anniversary of Reclaim the Night in Melbourne.

We will march together calling for justice and full funding of support services for survivors. We call for an end to gender inequalities – the underlying cause of violence against women. We stand together to demand our basic human right to safety and the right to participate in society to the fullest extent, free from harassment, discrimination and violence.

As with the last two year’s rally, the march will be led by groups of women and any woman wishing to participate are welcome at the front. Women are welcome to bring their children to this leading group. Women-identifying members of our community are very welcome in this first group.

Following this first group, we invite men – along with women who’d like to march with them – to join us in solidarity.

Bring signs, banners and a noisy rejection of the status quo!

Wear blue if you can

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land in which this event is taking place, the land of the Wurundjeri and pay respect to their Elders and families.

Reclaim the Night Melbourne welcomes everyone to the march regardless of race, religion, occupation, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or disability.”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/376128679211254/

Workshop: SafetyNet Training

“WHERE: The training will be held at the Rex, 150 Northbourne Ave, Civic, Canberra

WHEN: Thursday 16 October AND Friday 17 October.

Two-day training workshop for people working with or supporting women experiencing gender-based violence.

This training focuses on the positive and negative impacts of technology on survivors of domestic and family violence, stalking, sexual violence, dating violence and abuse.

The Women’s Services Network (WESNET) is pleased to present Technology Safety Training to interested members and others working with and supporting survivors and victims of abuse and violence.

Initially developed in the US by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), Technology Safety Training educates service providers in the domestic and family violence sector to:

– understand HOW technologies work
– identify HOW abusers are misusing technology
– assess HOW technology use impacts women and girls experiencing violence
– discuss HOW technology can be used to help women and girls experiencing violence
– support women and girls with privacy and SAFETY PLANNING about technology and EVIDENCE COLLECTION

Technologies discussed include:

– Phones — including mobiles, caller ID and landlines
– Bluetooth
– Assistive Technology
– Spyware & Hacking Risks
– Emails & internet
– Tracking GPS
– Social media
– Photocopiers & Office technology

Who should attend:

The training is suitable for ACT agencies and services working or supporting victims and/or survivors of violence and abuse, those in the domestic/family violence or homelessness sector, police and court staff, disability workers, child protection, and policy makers and program managers in government and non-government agencies.”

For more information, visit: http://wesnet.org.au/2014/08/safetynet-training-canberra-2/

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

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