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In the week that has many of us eagerly awaiting Sunday’s Carbon Emmissions announcement, and what impact this will have on Australian Women, there has still been plenty of news focussed on the impacts of violence against women. Grab a cuppa and settle in for some great reading…

Firstly, a few releases from the Minister’s Office

• Online Support for Victims/Survivors of Violence and Abuse
• Parliament must lead on Appropriate Conduct Towards Women

In news around Australia:

• The Bendigo Advertiser reports on a pilot program being rolled-out in Central Victoria
• The Herald Sun comments on the loophole that protects convicted sex offenders
• Eva Ensler writes about men,women and violence in The Age
• Ian Robinson writes an opinion piece on the plight of women in Australia
• Farrah Tomazin urges the Victorian Government to not forget about Domestic and Family Violence as it gets ‘tough on crime’
• Several protestors, including women, were arrested in WA during a protest and blockade at James Price Point

And Internationally:

• SlutWalk takes on  new meanings in India

There have been a number of articles published after the release of the report “”Children’s exposure to domestic violence in Australia””

• You can read the Attorney General’s media release here
• ps news has this to say

Training

Upcoming Training and Workshops

• CASA House in Victoria is offering a number of workshops in coming months. Click here to learn more
• WIRE will hold a free information session Impact of Family Violence on the Mother/Baby relationship
• Feminist InspirActivism in August – click here

Conferences

And you still have time to register for these conferences!

• Mt Gambier next week!
• 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters

 

Lots of news to get through since our last Round-up, so make yourself comfortable for some catch-up reading…

Speeches

Click here to read Minister Ellis’ speech at the recent Australian Local Government Women’s Association 60th Anniversary Dinner

Making the news nationally this week:

• The Australian reports on other issues influencing the equal pay test case
• Professor Spencer Zifcak analyses the Victorian government’s review of the state’s Charter of Rights and Responsibilities in the SMH
• The Herald Sun reports on the right time to have a baby

More news on the “”Slutwalks”” in Australia:

• Bad weather for the Sydney protest didn’t dull the movement’s message.
• The Adelaide Slutwalk was another success with hundreds attending.

Media Releases

• Funding announced for WA breast cancer program

And Internationally:

• The first United Nations resolution in history affirming the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered people was recently passed.
• A new gene test is being hailed by specialists in the UK as a breakthrough in breast cancer diagnosis.
  
• The Guardian reports on sex selection technology creating huge gender imbalances in developing nations, republished by the IPPF.
• The first comprehensive, community-based research study of the prevalence of Gender Based Violence in South Africa, Botswana and Mauritius was recently announced.

Conferences

A few Conferences to put in your diaries as well:

• A national two and a half day conference titled United Against Domestic Violence: Engaging All Men In Prevention will be held in Mount Gambier Wednesday 13 July through to Friday 15 July 2011 in Mount Gambier at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre. Click here for more info & registration.
• Sisters Inside will be holding the Is Prison Obsolete 2011 Conference at the Citigate Central Hotel, Sydney on the 10th, 11th & 12th August 2011. Register online for special discounts.

A mixed bag of news crossing our virtual desks this week – all of which makes for some interesting reading!

Media Releases

First and foremost – there have been some important media releases from the Minister’s office this week:

• Discussion progresses on VAW in the Northern Territory
• Leadership Opportunities for Indigenous Women
• New Leadership Opportunities in the Northern Territory

Making the news nationally this week

• In  a follow up to last weeks article on the “”Brocial Network”” Jessica Lake takes a look at the history of privacy laws and images of women
• The Age reports on tribunal findings that cyberbullying constitutes violence
• The Sunraysia Daily reports on the opening of a new complex for indigenous women

 As expected, there is still  more commentary on Slutwalk.

• Paula Mathewson has this to say
• The SMH looks at the Melbourne Slutwalk held at the end of May

And Internationally

• In New Zealand there is debate over parental notification when teenagers seek abortions
• Cora Weiss comments on rape and war
• UK Department of Health has released a report on the number of women travelling from Ireland to have abortions.

New Resource!!

VicHealth has launched a review of Bystander Approaches in Support of Preventing Violence Against Women – access it here

Just a short Round-up this week, as the AWAVA Round-up team are still in catch-up after their hiatus! Still plenty of  news to share with you though

• The Canberra Time reports on the ACT Legistlative Committee Hearings into licensing of brothels and the harmful impacts of prostitution on women
• Jocelyn Scutt explores sex, rape and exploitation in this online article
• The age reports on a disturbing new facebook page that shares images of women without their knowledge or consent

And Internationally:

• US Peace Corps volunteers come forward about rape and sexual assualt while working in the Corps
• The Vancouver Sun reports on how rules of evidence impact on trials involving sexual assault against women with disabilities 
• A group of international feminists is gathering support for the African immigrant woman hotel worker allegedly attacked sexually by (now former!) IMF Director Donimique Strauss-Kahn, who is now having her character assassinated in the media. A statement has been posted here that you can sign to show your support 
• This report from Sweden further explores this issue    

And there is still plenty of controversy on the “”SlutWalks””  taking place around the world

• Gail Dines has this to say
• Terry Sweetman says the SlutWalk is a paradox
• Jacinda Woodhead and Stephanie Convery push for rights, not spectacle

Sexual Assault Research Register

ACSSA has released it’s Australian Sexual Assault Research Register, which you can access here

Women’s Health Survey

A survey of women’s experience of health services is being conducted now, with the launch of a women’s health services map in early July 2011. Click on the link to have your say. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/womenshealth2011  Or complete the attached paper version of the survey, and return it to Equality Rights Alliance, PO Box 1022, Dickson ACT 2602 by Friday 24 June 2011.

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