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Welcome to all our new subscribers, and a Happy 2012 to everyone! 2012 looks set to be another big year as AWAVA moves to new projects and continues to try to put an end to Violence Against Women – but for the moment, here is some catch-up reading on articles published over the break 

• The Herald Sun reported on the expected rise in reports of Family Violence during the Christmas period – read the full story here
• The Sydney Morning Herald published an opinion piece on the impact women are having politics and leadership in countries such as Egypt, Liberia, and Papua New Guinea
• Still in Egypt, and a court has  ruled that the “Virginity Tests’ carried out on female demonstrators is a human rights violation
• The Age reports an an increase of migrant women seeking help from refuges
• The National Times publish this opinion piece  by Leslie Cannold about the importance of ensuring women’s rights in the face of so-called ‘religious and cultural’ beliefs

Internationally

• The Guardian in the UK reports on a number of women’s groups pushing for the Leveson inquiry to address sexism in the media.

Welcome to the last Weekly Round-up* for 2011!  How quickly this year has flown – but before we start making New Years resolutions and plans for 2012, let’s take a look at the week that was

Around the Country

• The Age reports on how justice collides with custom for women in Afghanistan
• In South Australia, changes to domestic and family violence laws will see greater protection for women
• Dont forget that you can read all of Minister Ellis’s press releases here

Much of the news this week centred on the changes to cabinet, and the impact this will have

• The Australian reported on firsts for women
• The SMH took a more personal look at the achiemevements and challenges of Nicola Roxon and Tanya Plibersek

 Internationally

• New research in the UK shows that “”lads’ mags”” could be legitimising hostile and sexist attitudes towards women
• the joint winners of the Nobel Peace Prize receive their awards and comment on what they have achieved

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Upcoming Events

• 5th World Congress on Family Law and Childrens Rights is now calling for papers – find out more here
• International Women’s Conference is being held in Cairns 14th – 15th June 2012

To everyone in the Southern Hemisphere – Welcome to Summer! I am sure that everyone is busy busy busy shopping, finalising work, and generally rushing around in the last month of the year – but see if you can find a few minutes to settle in and have a look at what is happening in this week’s round-up

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Around the Nation

• The Age has more on recommendations on changes to the law to prevent trafficking
• The Attorney General’s department has announced the inaugural meeting of the children and family roundtable

Upcoming Events and Conferences

Upcoming events:

• Womens Health Victoria presents a half-day workshop Everyone’s Business Violence Prevention
• The International Women’s Conference (being held in Cairns) is now calling for abstracts. Find out more details here

During the week that saw us focus on Violence Against Women through White Ribbon Day, and IVEDAW, there was plenty of media space given to the issue. Here is just a snapshot of what you might have seen last week:

• The Herald Sun talks with Michael Flood about what prevents men from standing up to stop violence against women
• There have been allegations of sexual abuse at a Melbourne mental health service – read more about it here. The Age also reports on a possible investigation into the allegations
• The lobby group Adults Surviving Child Abuse have called on government to provide appropriate responses for adults who have experienced abuse as children
• In WA, the acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner is seeking legislative change to support women who have been sexually harrassed in taxis
• Women’s Health Victoria have circulated this media release “We are all responsible for preventing violence against women”
• Michael Flood, White Ribbon Day Ambassador, critises Mathew Newton on comments made in his recent ACA Interview
• The Age continues to report on women who have been trafficked working in the sex industry
• the Courier Mail reports on the introduction of new laws to prevent and protect women from being trafficked and entering into forced marriages – read more here
• The Herald Sun reports on changes to Family Law that will help to put childrens safety first
• A Facebook page promoting stalking as a ‘victimless cime’has been removed after strong lobbying from the sector
• the Castlemaine Independent reports that business should be part of 16 days of activism

The Weekly Round-up* has been having a little break, while our website has been upgraded and we have been busy delivering Community Engagement events in regional Australia (don’t forget, you can still sign up to attend the Wilcannia event in December!)

So here is some catch up reading for you:

•  Stefanie Menezes – ABC News  Last year in Australia 84,000 children tried to get help from a homeless service, but more than half of them were turned away. A new report has found things are not getting much better, and advocates for children are urging the Federal Government to set up a national framework to get homeless children off the streets. more
• Facebook has finally removed some of it’s pro-rape pages – read more here
• Women bloggers talk about the mysoginist abuse and threats they receive when voicing their opinion online – more here
• From the USA  read this article on victim-blaming

and dont forget – you can catch up on all the week’s media releases from Kate Ellis’s office by clicking here

NEW!

New Papers and Resources

• ACSSA has released Responding to women’s experiences of sexual assault in institutional and care settings

Conferences and Event

Upcoming Events!

• The Municipal Association of Victoria will hold a free forum “”Preventing Violence Against Women Promising Practice Forum””
• Are you in WA? Attend the Annual Silent March