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Seeking Endorsements for NGO CEDAW Report

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Show your support and endorse the NGOs’ Follow-Up Report to CEDAW

AWAVA and NATSIWA are seeking endorsement, in part or in full, for the NGOs’ Follow-up Report to the CEDAW Committee’s 2010 Interim Recommendations on addressing violence against women, and actions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Show your organisations support for the report by adding your organisation’s endorsement by close on Thursday 9 August, you can email us for a copy of the report.  A final version will be published on our website following submission to the CEDAW Committee in August.

Thank you for your support!

Coordinating NGO CEDAW Report

We asked you what you thought the priority actions on VAW and for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander women were back in June.  Our online survey sought your views on Australia™s performance on actions on violence against women and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and what Australia™s priorities on violence against women and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women needed to be.

AWAVA and NATSIWA asked for your input into the non-government organisations™ response to the CEDAW July 2010 Concluding Observations recommendations on action on violence against women and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

So, what™s was the survey for?

The survey assessed NGOs’views of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and what they thought Australia™s priorities on violence against women and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women needed to be. It was used specifically to produce the NGO report for the CEDAW Committee.  The NGO report provides additional information and an alternative view for the CEDAW Committee when it considers the Australian Government™s response to its July 2010 recommendations.

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 are we doing 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. We took NGOs’ views on how policies, programs and practices really work, on what works well and where more needs to be done.  The NGO report is high-level and focussed, capturing the key points raised.

The survey responses helped both AWAVA and NATSIWA capture what the sector and communities want to see on violence against women and actions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, it will also feed into the preparations for the Commission for the Status of Women 57th session in March 2013 where the theme is Elimination and prevention of all forms of volence against women and girls. 

Who coordinated the interim NGO report?

Two of the Commonwealth-funded National Women™s Alliances, AWAVA, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women™s Alliance, NATSIWA, coordinated the NGO response to the CEDAW recommendations.

 

Weekly Round-up* – 8 June

This week has seen plenty of focus on violence against women in the news, with the new Family Violence laws and definitions coming into effect this week – if you’ve missed them, we’ve captured a few of these articles below for you:

  • Attorney General, Nicola Roxon, announces changes that will broaden the definition of Family Violence to include stalking, intentional property damage, and harm to pets, reported in the Sydney Morning Herald. The ABC also had this report
  • Also in the SMH, this editorial states that violence…must not be tolerated
  • The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has reported on Australia on the sale of children and children in armed conflict – read the questions asked of Australia and the responses here.   Note: this article contains links to the full Australian report
  • Review of Family Law and Child Support System announced by Andrew Wilkie, see this media release from the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children Inc

Around the World

In other news

  • AWAVA sent a submission in for the Senate Inquiry for the National Children’s Commissioner Bill 2012 welcoming the position
  • An interesting opinion piece on the politics of naming victims and survivors from last week
What do you think are the priority actions on VAW and for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women?

We want to know your views on Australia™s performance on, and what Australia™s priorities need to be on these two areas to feed into the NGO’s report for CEDAW.  Tell us your views by accessing the survey here before 20 June 2012.  

Read more here

Resources

New Resource!! ACSSA have this week released a new resource/fact sheet Asking women about intimate partner sexual violence – a must read and handy reference for anyone working with women – particularly in the health sector

Get Involved!!

New Petition During the week many of you may have seen this article with the Governor General calling for a  bravery award, given to a man currently serving prison time for assaulting his partner, to be stripped.  A campaign and petition are underway and if you want to join AWAVA and add your signature to the petition, and find out what else you can do to make a difference click here to become involved.

Upcoming Events

Still Time to Register!

This Month

July

  • The Association of Women Educators conference being held 3-5 July 2012 – for details and registration click here
August

Later 

  • Take action on Peace Day 21 September, and become part of the largest gathering of people in the name of Peace and non violence. Watch the youtube clip here
  • The No To Violence conference in November 2012
  • The 7th Womens Health Conference will be held in Sydney in 2013
  • Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT!  A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here

Important Media Release from Attorney General the Hon Nicola Roxon MP

   

 Please see below for an important Media Release from the Attorney General’s office today. It highlights the changes to the Family Law Act, designed to better protect children that are exposed to Family Violence. These changes come into effect today

 

 

THE HON NICOLA ROXON MPAttorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management

MEDIA RELEASE

7 June 2012

new family violence changes take effect

Better protection for children who are exposed to family violence will be available with changes to the Family Law Act that come into effect today.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the changes acknowledge the important role of both parents in the upbringing of children while also improving protections for children where family violence is involved.

“These changes place children and their safety front and centre in family law matters,” Ms Roxon said.

“This Government strongly supports a child’s right to a meaningful relationship with both parents where this is safe.

“Unfortunately, more than half of the parenting cases that come to courts involve allegations by one or both parties that the other has been violent.”

The changes to the Family Law Act include:

  • disincentives to disclose family violence to the courts have been removed
  • the definitions of family violence and child abuse have been updated to clearly set out what type of behaviour is unacceptable – such as physical and emotional abuse and the exposure of children to family violence
  • appropriate action is taken to prioritise the safety of children in family law disputes.

Importantly, these changes protect shared care arrangements. This means the Family Law Act will continue to promote a child’s right to a meaningful relationship with both parents, with a stronger emphasise that the child’s safety must come first.

“I am under no illusions about the challenge of tackling family violence in our society,” Ms Roxon said.

“By protecting children that come into contact with our family law system, we are reaching those who have dealings with police, counsellors, lawyers and the courts. But we are also sending a clear message that violence has no place on our society to those many violent family situations in Australia that remain invisible to our legal system.”

“These changes to the law will help reduce the exposure of children to family violence where we know it is happening. This will provide those children with the best opportunity to succeed in life.”

These changes to the Family Law Act follow reports received by the Government from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the Honourable Professor Richard Chisholm AM, and the Family Law Council.

More information about these changes is available from: www.ag.gov.au/familyviolenceact

For all media enquiries, please contact the Attorney-General’s Office on 02 6277 7300 or 0409 945 476

Weekly Round-up* 1 June

Welcome to our new subscribers and Happy Official Winter everyone!  Quite a few of you have joined in the past few weeks, and it’s exciting to have our readership grow and know that these important stories are reaching further afield every day. Make sure you share these articles, events and news with your networks or encourage sign-up to the weekly round-up, and remember that if you have something you would like to see in the round-up, send it to [email protected] and we’ll try to include it.

In AWAVA news, the staff and Advisory Group have been busy, some of the recent highlights:

  • presenting via weblink to Amnesty International offices across Australia on 24 May on AWAVA’s work and key messages.  A big thankyou to Amnesty International and the event organisers for inviting us and we look forward to working with Amnesty International in the future
  • attending the Connect, Learn, Share presentation on the 2nd World Conference of Women™s Shelters hosted by the Minister for Women, Joy Burch MLA, on 28 May in ACT (find out more about the 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters, held in February, here)
  • receiving training on the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and engaging in the CEDAW review and reporting processes this week – thankyou to our Friend & Supporter, Edwina MacDonald, for being a fantastic, knowledgeable tutor – who patiently answered AWAVA™s Global Engagement and International Mechanisms Working Group’s questions!  If you are one of AWAVA’s Friends & Supporters and would be interested in a CEDAW training session please contact us

and now to the news

Around the nation

Around the world

Resources

  • Changes to the Family Violence Act will come into effect on 7 June – to access quick reference information, factsheets, and answers to FAQs click here to go to the Attorney General’s information page

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Get Involved!

Heard of Lingerie Football? You soon will – it’s on its way to Australia – a form of entertainment (not a sport!) that sees lingerie-clad women playing grid-iron, which is both demeaning to women and puts the women involved at high risk of substantial injury. Collective Shout are asking for your help in petitioning to put a stop to it. Click here to sign the petition and to find out other ways that you can lobby. Read what the Australian Womensport and Recreation Association have to say here, and Kate Lundy’s (Federal Minister for Sports) view here if you want more information.

Upcoming Events and Training

NEW!!!

  • Michael Flood will assess debates over men’s and women’s experiences of domestic violence at a free seminar He Hits, She Hits in QLD on June 22 – this talk will also be available via video-link to a number of sites around Australia. Click here for more information and to register

Still Time to Register!

June

July

  • The Association of Women Educators conference being held 3-5 July 2012 – for details and registration click here
August

Later 

  • Take action on Peace Day 21 September, and become part of the largest gathering of people in the name of Peace and non violence. Watch the youtube clip here
  • The No To Violence conference in November 2012
  • The 7th Womens Health Conference will be held in Sydney in 2013
  • Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT!  A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here

Weekly Round-up* 25 May

This week’s round-up certainly has an international flavour, with all of our articles coming from outside Australia this week.

  • In NZ, Women’s Refuge are still wanting more information on the police statistics of domestic and family violence
  • Anushay Hossain speaks out about rape as a weapon of war in the Bangledesh war of Independence, and the legacy this left
  • Jessica Buchleitner takes a look at the need to ‘destigmatise’ rape and hold rapists to account around the world
  • In South Africa, there is progress being made in ending Ukuthwala – the ‘tradition’ of kidnapping young women and forcing them to marry
  • Still in South Africa, and the disturbing news article that highlights the often increased risk of rape for women with disabilities
  • In post-conflict West Africa, domestic violence is now emerging as the biggest threat to West African women
  • and finally, an interesting article from Rita Banerji, a gender activist and blogger from India

Upcoming Events and Training

NEW!!!

Still Time to Register!

June

July

  • The Association of Women Educators conference being held in July 2012 – for details and registration click here
August

Later 

  • The No To Violence conference in November 2012
  • The 7th Womens Health Conference will be held in Sydney in 2013
  • Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT!  A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here

 

Politicians and Media to lift their game on sexist remarks

AWAVA joins the growing expressions of concern about the misogynistic and sexist treatment of Australia’s first woman Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, within Parliament, in the media and within the community.

AWAVA endorses the Open Letter from women’s organisations nationally stating that the public treatment of the Prime Minister is akin to the scourge of interpersonal violence that affects 1 in 3 Australian women.

These comments are unacceptable:

Alan Jones suggests placing the Prime Minister in a bag and drowning her at sea (Alan Jones June 2011, July 2011)

Grahame Morris proposes kicking her to death (Grahame Morris Feb 2012)

Tony Abbott wants a ‘target on her head’ (Tony Abbott March 2011)

the anti-Carbon Tax movement brandish ‘burn the witch’ placards (March 2011)

AWAVA welcomes informed political analysis and debate and demands that the media and politicians lift their game.

 

Weekly Round-up* 21 May

As winter well and truly sets in across the southern states, it seems like the perfect time to snuggle up with a warm bowl of soup and take some time out to read what is happening in the VAW sector, both at home and around the world

Around the nation

  • AWAVA Advisory Group members Anne Morris and Annie Parkinson attended the launch of the Women™s Statement in Sydney on 15 May. Julie Collins MP, Minister for the Status of Women, outlined some of the Federal Government™s achievements for women, adding that the government intended to work towards further progress next year. Minister Collins launched the document, Women’s Statement 2012 – Achievements and Budget Measures stating that its œnew look was a reflection of the government™s particular concern with women™s issues.  See comments on the 2012-13 Federal Budget from AWAVA’s Chair, Julie Oberin, here
  • There has been some controversy over Brisbane’s 2nd SlutWalk, with some of the original core values being overshadowed
  • Jocelyn Scutt presents this opinion piece on Women’s Leadership in Politics 
  • This interview with Catherine Smith, a survivor of domestic violence, highlights some of the short-falls of the Australian police and justice system.  Catherine was part of the Australian delegation for CSW56 (Commission on the Status of Women) this year and presented at the Australian and Solomon Islands government-sponsored side event on the Impacts of Domestic Violence on Rural Women

And internationally

  • In China, a recent NGO survey showed more than half of respondents had been affected by domestic violence
  • The UK will host a trilateral meeting with women MPs from Pakistan and Afghanistan, focussing on women in politics, gender diversity and forced marriage
  • The CSW56 report with resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission this year is now available – you can access it here

Get Involved

Your chance to make a difference

AWAVA was shocked and disappointed to hear the recent news that one of our Friends & Supporters, Sisters Inside, has been defunded by the Queensland Government.

The National Chair of AWAVA, Julie Oberin, extended the following support to Sisters Inside:

œDebbie Kilroy has been an extremely strong advocate for some of Australia™s most vulnerable women, her work for women in prisons and for Aboriginal women has been amazing and much needed.  AWAVA extends its support to you Debbie, and Sisters Inside, and hopes funding is secured quickly for the vital services you provide.

AWAVA has written a letter of support to the Queensland State Government, urging the reconsideration of this decision. If you want to get involved, (joining over 8,500 supporters at the time of posting) and lend your support, click here to find out how

Have Your Say!

The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse (ADFVC) invites workers with clients affected by domestic violence, during and after a natural disaster, to participate in an online survey – click here to find out more

Call for Papers

The Biennial Australian Women and Gender Studies Conference (21-23 November 2012) is calling for papers by 27 July – click here to find out more

Upcoming Events!

Still time to register

  • The Domestic Violence Resource Centre will hold a forum on their latest discussion paper “”Just Say Goodbye””: parents who kill their children in the context of separation on 31 May, in Melbourne
  • Sowing the Seeds of Change is a forum to raise awareness of the effects of family violence on women with disabilities organized by women with disabilities, being held 19 June  in Victoria
  • WIRE Women™s Information is offering free workshops to women who have experienced financial control in a family violence situation in June.  Please note these workshops are unsuitable for women currently in crisis situations
  • Homeless Persons Week, running 6 -12 August, recognises that the most common reason clients give for seeking assistance, relates to domestic and family violence
  • Dont forget:
    • Preventing and responding to violence against women: Issues, challenges and best practice to be held in Adelaide (South Australia) on 15 June 2012
    • The Association of Women Educators conference being held in July 2012 – for details and registration click here
    • The Violence Against Women Conference on 7,8, 9 August 2012, in Brisbane www.violenceagainstwomenqld.com.au
    • The No To Violence conference in November 2012
    • The 7th Womens Health Conference will be held in Sydney in 2013
    • Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT!  A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here

 

Weekly Round-up* 14 May

The AWAVA crew have had a busy couple of weeks!  The Advisory Group met last week in Melbourne to work on strategic planning and the future direction for the Alliance.  It was very productive with excellent engagement from members across a number of sectors.  JERA International provided Advisory Group members with in-depth, informative training on the operations of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), with a bonus guest presentation by YWCA National on advocacy during CSW56.  AWAVA are preparing for active engagement next year for CSW57’s  theme: Eliminating and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls.

AWAVA was disappointed that the budget announcements last week did not include any new commitments to addressing violence against women and that the recommendations highlighted in AWAVA’s Pre Budget Submissions were not picked up. The Equality Rights Alliance had this response to the budget announcements, highlighting: “”Protecting the Budget surplus will cost Australia financially and socially, as we deal with the fallout of homelessness, poverty, and violence.””

AWAVA’s Chair, Julie Oberin, attended the Intimate Partner Violence and Homicide Conference during the first week of May, and tweeted about her learnings and experience.  If you’re not already following us on twitter, sign up now to AWAVA_Women – we would love your support!

And finally, before we get onto the VAW news, many of you will remember that AWAVA, in partnership with WLSA, and AWAVA Friends & Supporters, campaigned last year for significant changes to the Family Law Act to better protect women and their children. Women’s Legal Services Victoria have produced a quick reference guide on the changes that resulted, so make sure you scroll down to “”New Resource”” to check out what the changes mean.

Now, to the news:

  • Australia has been appointed to the UN Women Executive Board, which the Foriegn minister says will further strengthen Australia’s committment to end violence against women – read the media release here
  • $3.7 million funding to projects promoting respectful relationships were announced to support the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, read the press release here
  • On 3 May, AWAVA Advisory Group Member, Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services (WA), organised a rally with over 100 attendees and over 2,600 petitions against ˜unlawful assault causing death™ applying in cases where a history of physical violence and abuse can be established
  • In Queensland, one of AWAVA’s long-time Friends & Supporters, Sisters Inside , have had all funding cut, despite the excellent work they have been doing with women in prisons, AWAVA has signed a petition in support, you can sign too here

And Internationally

Resources

New Resource!!

Women’s Legal Services Victoria have put together a Guide to Family Law Act – to access it, click here

Can you help?

The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse invites front-line workers responding to clients affected by domestic violence, during and after a disaster, from 2002 onwards including natural disasters (e.g. floods or bushfire), technological/human-made disasters (e.g. mining accidents), mass violence (e.g. massacres), civil conflict (e.g. riots) and terrorism (e.g. bomb explosions),  to participate in a study.  You can fill in the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DV_and_disasters or contact the Clearinghouse at [email protected] or 02 9385 2990 to request a hard copy by post or fax.  The survey closes on Friday 8 June 2012.

 

Upcoming Events

Still time to register

  • Australia’s CEO Challenge and Minter Ellison are offering Specialist Training by Stephen Page on Family Law changes and their potential impacts on 14 and 15 May, in Brisbane
  • The Domestic Violence Resource Centre will hold a forum on their latest discussion paper “”Just Say Goodbye””: parents who kill their children in the context of separation on 31 May, in Melbourne
  • The Women’s Legal Centre ACT presents the Women and Justice Forum 16 May
  • Preventing and responding to violence against women: Issues, challenges and best practice to be held in Adelaide (South Australia) on 15 June 2012
  • Homeless Persons Week, running 6 -12 August, recognises that the most common reason clients give for seeking assistance, relates to Domestic and Family Violence
  • Dont forget the Association of Women Educators conference being held in July 2012 – for details and registration click here
  • Violence Against Women Conference – Queensland on 7,8, 9 August 2012, in Brisbane www.violenceagainstwomenqld.com.au
  • The No To Violence conference will be held in November 2012
  • The 7th Womens Health Conference will be held in Sydney in 2013
  • Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT!  A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here

 

Weekly Round-up* 27 April

In yet another short week this month, not a lot has crossed our virtual desks in relation to Violence Against Women – but importantly, the National Plan Implementation Panel (NPIP) has been announced and held its first meeting this week (26 and 27 April).

Picking up on last week’s final roundtables for the Special Rapporteur on violence against women’s study tour, AWAVA co-hosted a roundtable with Advisory Group member DV Vic, and VicHealth in Melbourne on 19 April.  AWAVA facilitated a survivor voices session with presentations from four women on what made a difference for them.  Their 3-minute speeches were really powerful and served as a great reminder that survivors need to be at the heart of discussions about service delivery and how we can prevent violence against women.  The last roundtable was on 20 April in Canberra, see AWAVA’s Twitter page for key messages.  We’ll be posting shortly about the study tour and will be creating a survivor voices page, keep an eye out.

At home:

  • The Minister for the Status of Women announces the first meeting and state and territory representatives for the National Plan Implementation Panel in this media release

Internationally

 

Resources:

New Resource!!

The UN has released a new e-learning course Managing Gender-Based-Violence in Emergencies

Upcoming Events

Still time to register

  • IWDA are screening The Lady, a film about the life of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi around Australia on 27 and 30 April
  • Griffith University Domestic Violence Symposium on 3 May
  • Australia’s CEO Challenge and Minter Ellison are offering Specialist Training by Stephen Page on Family Law changes and their potential impacts on 14 and 15 May, in Brisbane
  • The Women’s Legal Centre ACT presents the Women and Justice Forum 16 May
  • Preventing and responding to violence against women: Issues, challenges and best practice to be held in Adelaide (South Australia) on 15 June 2012
  • Dont forget the Association of Women Educators conference being held in July 2012 – for details and registration click here
  • Violence Against Women Conference – Queensland on 7,8, 9 August 2012, in Brisbane www.violenceagainstwomenqld.com.au
  • Australian Women’s Coalition is calling young women between 18 – 30 years who live, study or work in Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool or Coffs Harbour NSW, or in Canberra, ACT to be a part of SHOUT!  A series of three free workshops will run in each location, complemented by an online network of support and skills-sharing and a local network of participants and AWC member organisations. The workshops will culminate in community events on Harmony Day next year, 21 March 2013. Find out more here
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