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While the Weekly Round-up has been on a 2-week hiatus, the AWAVA Advisory Group has been hard at work meeting with each other, and the Office for the Status of Women, to plan for the coming twelve months. There are some exciting times ahead!

Of course, the news didn’t stop in the last 2 weeks – so here is a bit of catch-up.

Featured Article

Unfortunately poor judgements and inappropriate comments are still being made by Magistrates, demonstrated by a country Victorian Magistrate who for the second time released a man on bail saying that his breaches of an intervention order, which included stalking of his former wife, were “at the lower end of the scale”  despite that he had been accused of raping her.   Read the article  here

Also making the news

• The British Minister for Justice has made some inappropriate remarks in distinguishing date rape from other forms of rape. Read about it here
• The Attorney-General’s Department comments on new research that highlights the need to address family violence
• An interesting article on Australian Legal Responses to cyber-stalking
• Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced an external review of abuse allegations in Defence
• This article calls for communities to be more involved when it comes to instances of Family Violence

And there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the planned SlutWalks

• Nicole Brady looks at differing views on SlutWalk
• Fatima Measham says men are the missing ingredient
• Sarah Langford wants to us to focus on reclaiming ‘woman’
• Ruby Hanard says that no good will come of these events
• Clem Bastow tries to keep the focus on eradicating victim blaming

In the week that sees Australians take some time to remember those that have lost their lives through Family and Domestic Violence, there has been some important and interesting news come across our virtual desks concerning Violence Against Women

Landmark Finding in High Court

PROSECUTORS in a domestic violence case were right to lead evidence of a man’s past assaults on his former girlfriend which she never reported to police, the High Court has ruled, in a case which clarifies rules of evidence. Read the article here

Also making the news this week

• The Age reports on the dismay felt by women in Pakistan after the trial of accused rapists saw most of the accused set free. Read more about it here
• The changes to the Family Law Bill are currently before the senate, and is leading to some debate.
• Take some time to read this thought-provoking opinion piece, written by Helen Pringle, “”Prostitution as Violence Against Women””
• Another opinion piece written by Tonya Stanfield, explores how faith impacts women’s empowerment
• The Australian Human Rights Commission has released the details of it’s review into the Australian Defence Force
• The St Mary’s Star reports on a Domestic Violence Service in Penrith that  has been defunded under the new State Government
• And National Women’s Alliance AIRWA have put in a submission on the enquiry into multi-culturalism in Australia

Some important releases from the Minister for the Status of Women’s office

• Communities Step Up to Prevent Violence Against Women
• National Day to Remember Those who have Died because of Domestic and Family Violence

Take Action Today! Join the Call for a European Year 2013 to end violence against women

Upcoming Conferences and Events

Don’t forget!! There is still time to register for these upcoming Conferences and Events

• United Against Violence – Mt Gambier, July 2011
• White Ribbon Day Everyday – Brisbane, May 2011

A little less to share this week, with the 5 day break slowing down the news somewhat.

Making the papers (traditional and online) this week

• The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission welcomes a review of the Human Rights Charter
• The Attorney General’s department put out a media release encouraging community groups to back human rights education
• The Age published a story focussing on the newly-appointed head of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet
• The debate continues over women serving on the frontline
• The Border Mail reports on the BSafeprogram, and a lack of funding.

Applications for the Australian Human Rights Framework Education Grants program are now open.

Don’t Forget! There is still time to register for these upcoming conferences

• United Against Domestic Violence, Mt Gambier in July
• White Ribbon Day Every Day Brisbane, May 21st
• World Conference of Women’s Shelters Washington DC Feb 2012

I hope you all have something lovely and restful planned for the Easter/ANZAC Day break! In case you are looking for something to do, here is some light reading to keep you going…

• The Sunday Age reports that there needs to be further reform in the prosecuting of sexual assault crimes
• The Age also offers an opinion piece on the achievements of the 2006 reforms.
• A woman alleging she endured almost 2 years of sexual harassment and abuse is taking action against a major company. Read the full article here
• The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault has released a new fact sheet on the impacts of sexual assault on women.
• In Victoria, the the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights was launched.
• In South Australia, women’s groups have supported a suspended sentence given to a survivor of Domestic Violence who killed her husband. Read the article here
• An opinion piece by Nina Funnell looks at the “just do it” attitudes towards sex in relationships.
• In an article in The Age, Simon Overland acknowledges some of the reasons for homelessness and crime among young women
  

Internationally:

• A UK report reveals that women between the ages of 16 and 19 are the age group most at risk of domestic violence.
• Also in the UK,  the long awaited Government report on reforming family law has been published by the Family Justice Review. A brief summary is available, with a link to the report.
• And as Freedom Day approaches in South Africa, Genderlinks asks whether South African women are really free?

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is currently undertaking a project to develop tools for young women in the workplace and for employers outlining their rights and responsibilities. The first step of the project is a survey for young women aged 15-30.

If you are a young woman aged 15-30, they would like to hear from you! Please take five minutes to click on the link below and complete their survey.

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/504750/workplace-rights-young-women

Some interesting and varied news crossing our virtual desks this week, which has made for great rugged-up-reading, as the weather turned cold in our Southern States…

Making the news in Australia this week:

• The YWCA has shared the CEDAW Report: Doing better for women in Australia
• In Victoria, an anti-bullying campaign will be launched in schools next term
• New research on attitudes to sexual harrassment
• Libby Lloyd and Heather Nancarrow offer some context and insight on the ADFA news that made headlines this week
• A media release from the Minister for the Status of Women highlights Australian hip hop artists calling for respect in relationships
• Another media release from the Minister’s office told us more about Industry and Government working together to boost the number of women in science and engineering
• The Sex Discrimination Commissioner will be leading a review on the ADFA and the ADF – learn more here
• The Australian Federation of Medical Women has published it’s latest newsletter

Current Vacancies

• Genderlinks, a Southern African NGO, seeks a Director of Programmes
• ?Quantum Support Services are seeking a Family Violence Support Worker

Don’t forget, there is still plenty of time to register for the below events

• The Australian Women Educators’ White Ribbon Day Everyday
• The 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters
• The Mount Gambier Conference United Against Domestic Violence
  

Not a lot to share this week locally, but Internationally there have been a few happenings

• The age reports on India’s missing girls
• Namibian students take action to end gendered violence on campus

New Resources:

• Women’s Health Victoria has published a new resource ICT and Violence Against Women

Conferences and Upcoming Events

• NEW!!! United Against Domestic Violence conference in Mt Gambier – July
• A reminder that it is less than 12 months until the next World Conference of Women’s Shelters