On 26 July 2013, the Commonwealth Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Julie Collins MP, and the Victorian Minister for Community Services, the Hon Mary Wooldridge, MP, announced the Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children (the Foundation). The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have partnered to establish the Foundation, which will [...]
It is with sadness that we inform you that Amy Blain AWAVA’s Program Manager has resigned. Amy has been on parenting leave and has made the difficult decision to not return to AWAVA. Amy felt it was time to move on, seeking new challenges and opportunities in the preventing violence against women sector. Amy has been an [...]
The Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) commends the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments for the establishment of the new National Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children. As the Commonwealth funded, issue based alliance on violence against women, AWAVA believes that the $6.5 million invested in the new Foundation is evidence of [...]
The Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) commends the Commonwealth Government’s investment of $3 million to support research looking at ways to prevent perpetrators of violence against women from reoffending. AWAVA welcomes the initiative to develop national outcome standards for perpetrator interventions via consultation with the Australian women’s sector. Read the full media release here
As part of AWAVA’s ‘Priorities for Women' activities, AWAVA sent letters to all major parties asking them about their policies for addressing violence against women and girls; their views of the challenges; their commitment to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their funding commitments. We asked the following four questions (in no more than 500 [...]
It was a tumultuous week in politics. During the last Parliamentary Sitting for the year, turmoil reached new heights with a change in Prime-Minister and a Cabinet reshuffle. As election campaigning begins, AWAVA continues to focus on the policy platforms on violence against women presented by each major political party. As part of AWAVA's contribution [...]
This week, AWAVA joined the five other Commonwealth-funded National Women's Alliances at the joint annual forum. Discussions focused on achievements and challenges during the first three years and future plans for the Alliances individually and collectively. Margaret Augerinos, an Executive Member of our Advisory Group, also represented AWAVA's CSW57 delegation in a panel discussion chaired by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, [...]
The news this week in Australia has been dominated by examples of sexist behaviour and attitudes – a strong reminder that there is a way to go to address gender inequality and, ultimately, the prevention of violence against women, which is both a cause and consequence of gender and social inequalities. […]
US rapper, Tyler-the-Creator has been in Australia this week giving concerts; his song lyrics promote violence against women, so should we really be giving him a platform to do this? We can't excuse songs about rape, genital mutilation, raping corpses and burying bodies, as 'entertainment' or 'free speech'. A resolution in the Philippines was filed [...]
The power of collective lobbying and advocacy last week made two great impacts - pressuring Facebook to review its policies and training to include gender-based hate speech in their moderating of online material; and, in Australia, much-needed amendments were made to NSW's compensation to victims of violence against women. In other news...a busy week around the country! AWAVA added our [...]