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Weekly Round-up* 26 April

This week, AWAVA has been following reports on sexism. We have been following reports on why a focus on women politicians’ appearance fuels sexism; why women’s looks still count and how “”praising women’s looks is not necessarily a compliment but a reminder that they are not quite on the same level as men, whose worth is measured primarily by what they do””; and how gender inequality manifests itself in a myriad of ways: “”think of the sexist jokes passed off as humour, the rape apology sites on Facebook, the disparate numbers of men in positions of power“”.

Around The Nation

In this article, Cathy Humphries says we should be as shocked by domestic violence as we are at violence on our streets
The Age reports that women are at risk when attending court.
And as funding cuts are made to the Family Court system, many women will be forced to represent themselves against their perpetrators
The Age also says that increased Family and Domestic Violence reporting is an indication of changing community attitudes

Internationally

In Turkey, a digital monument dedicated to women killed by male violence highlights the extent of violence against women in that country
This article from the UK reports on family violence and rape prosecutions
In the UK, a television show takes on female genital mutilation/cutting

Research, Resources and Reports

The final report from the NSW Parliament on The partial defence of provocation is now available for download here

Get Involved!

New Survey

ABC is preparing an online tool for use in the election, and as part of the development they want to know which issues matter to Australians in this election. Complete this survey and nominate violence against women

Weekly Round-up* 22 April

Over 80% of women and girls worldwide face street harassment: catcalls, groping, sexual comments and public masturbation. Street harassment limits women and girls’ mobility and access to public spaces and is a form of violence against women and a human rights violation. Last week was International End Sexual Harassment Week – AWAVA joined in with tweeting to raise awareness. Read more about why this is so important.

In other news around the nation

The Commonwealth Government invites eligible organisations to apply for funding to deliver services such as counselling, support and case management to individuals and affected family members before, during and after their engagement with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
In this article, Elizabeth Farrelly asks whether the rights of a culture outweigh the rights of it’s people

Internationally

A G8 Summit held in the UK has seen nations pledge to end sexual violence against women and girls in war zones
This Op-ed in the Huffington Post looks at how people conform to rape culture
In Europe, countries are being urged to ratify the Council of Europe convention on violence against women
In the UK, BBC drama Casualty runs a storyline on female genital mutilation/cutting to raise public awareness

Get Involved!

The Stop the Violence Project headed by Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is undertaking research to build the evidence base to support future reform of the service system to better respond to the needs of women and girls with disabilities. The project is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) as part of the multi-layered approach to assisting women and girls with disabilities under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. The research seeks information from mainstream and specialist prevention and response policy-making, representative and service provider organisations across domestic violence/sexual assault, disability services and other relevant service sectors including the criminal justice and victims support sectors in all states and territories, particularly in regards to their views and experience of policy and practice relevant to violence prevention and response for women and girls with disabilities. For more information or to participate in the project, please visit click here Survey responses close on Friday 31 May
Call for abstracts – Victims of Crime National Conference (VOCNC) 2013 26 and 27September, 2013 – The Victims of Crime National Conference 2013 will be hosted by Victim Support Service Inc in collaboration with the Office for Women. They are calling for abstracts, with a closing date of Friday 26 April 2013. Contributions from a wide range of professionals who have varied interests such as working with people who have experienced crime, victimology, law reform and trauma are being sought. Broad themes and other details for abstracts can be found here

*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only

Weekly Round-up* 22 March

Stark reminders this week that there is a way to go to change victim-blaming attitudes for violence against women offences, and still a need to challenge mainstream media reporting and broadcasting of violence against women, both at home and internationally. Greater focus on perpetrator behaviour is needed, with a recognition that it’s everyone’s responsibility to end this violence.

News from CSW

The Agreed Conclusions from CSW57 recognise the important role that the media can play by including the clause “…encourage the media to improve public awareness on violence against women and girls, to train those who work in the media…”

Read more about the international agreements in the advanced unedited version of the Agreed Conclusions
Minister Julie Collins’s media release underpins the importance of the Agreed Conclusions: Historic international agreement on preventing violence against women and girls
For more reading on the outcomes of CSW: CSW57 – Signed, Adopted, and Delivered; UN Commission on the Status of Women unmasks equality’s enemies; Ending Violence Against Women — Now the Real Work Starts

AWAVA will post more on the CSW57 outcomes, including a handy lobbying guide, in the next few weeks, keep an eye on the website.

Around the Nation

The Age reports on the scrapping of changes to anti-discrimination laws. Read AWAVA’s response to the announcement here and disappointment at the missed opportunity to provide much-need protection to domestic violence survivors and victims. AWAVA joined 96 organisations, including many AWAVA member organisations and supporters calling on the Government to pass the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill by June 2013
In an interview with a survivor of sexual abuse, John Laws asks the victim “was it your fault?“ – triggering a storm of complaints and tweets.
[WARNING: interview is very graphic in places]. If you want to remind radio broadcasters that they have a responsibility to end violence against women and girls, sign this petition
A new app aimed at assisting people to report sexual assault has been launched this week
Martin McKenzie-Murray says plainly and simply if you “touch a woman without her consent you are scum. Zero excuses. Pass the word”
The high-profile WA trial involving Tammy Kingdon and Troy Mercanti has commentators hoping more women will come forward to report abuse

Gender Equality in the Workplace Laws – Includes family and domestic violence reporting

The reporting requirements of employers under the new gender equality in the workplace laws “Gender Equality Indicator 4—availability and utility of employment” include terms, conditions and practices relating to flexible working arrangements for employees and toworking arrangements supporting employees with family or caring responsibilities. Matters that must be included in the report:

4.12 The existence of a policy or strategy to support employees who have or are experiencing family or domestic violence.

4.13 Measures, if any, to support employees who have or are experiencing family or domestic violence.

Internationally

Laurie Penny from the USA talks about the Steubenville rape, and rape culture in society [WARNING: some potentially offending language]. CNN were strongly crticised for their victim-blaming coverage of the rape convictions, if you want to register your dissatisfaction with the reporting, sign this petition
Ten women in New York take legal action against the city for failing to provide safe housing as they escape violence
In the UK, Teachers are beginning to be trained in recognising victims of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
India’s lower house approves tougher penalties for rapists

*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only

Protecting Domestic Violence as a Protected Attribute

AWAVA joined 96 other organisations, including many of our member organisations and Friends & Supporters, in calling on the Government to pass the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 through parliament by the end of June this year and welcoming the additional protected attributes suggested in the recommendations made by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

See the letter here: Joint NGO letter to Attorney-General

AWAVA also issued a Media Release: Protecting Domestic Violence As A Protected Attribute

AWAVA Call to Action

We need your help to make sure that the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 is heard this parliamentary sitting. The Bill’s passage is essential to secure the status of being a survivor or victim of domestic violence as a protected attribute in discrimination cases.

What we want you to do:

Call your local MP and other members now and cover the points in this letter or
Drop a personalised version of this letter into your local MP’s office or
Email the attached personalised version of this letter to your local member and other members and follow-up with a phone call to check it is received
Pass on the letter to your networks to send to their members

This is a local issue, there will be women in constituencies and clients seen at local support services that are facing discrimination and who would greatly benefit from this much-needed protection.

You can also:

Sign the GetUp! Petition, this will be handed to the Attorney General today, 19 March: http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/anti-discrimination/time-for-action/sign-the-petition; send the populated short letter to your MP and contact the papers with a letter
Send the GetUp! Petition to your networks

Media Release: Protecting Domestic Violence As A Protected Attribute

How will we now protect survivors and victims of domestic violence from the discrimination we know they face in the workplace and in accessing safe, secure, long-term accommodation?

The Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus QC, has just announced that the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 will be on hold, missing a once-in-a-decade opportunity to introduce much-needed protections for survivors and victims of domestic violence. The Government will be introducing the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people from discrimination in Commonwealth laws, which is obviously welcomed, but the protections must go much further. Read the Government media release

AWAVA are very supportive of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 and are extremely disappointed that the recommendation to include the status of being a survivor/victim of domestic violence as a protected attribute stands and falls with the Bill

“We have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to make a real difference to women who are currently experiencing, or have experienced, domestic and family violence by including the status of being a survivor/victim of domestic violence as a protected attribute in the consolidated Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination (HRAD) Bill 2012. Not taking this opportunity to provide a much-needed protection and support to women is an absolute travesty.”

“How do we protect Australia’s most vulnerable women if there is no specific legislative protection from the discrimination we know they still face in the workplace and when seeking safe, secure and long-term accommodation? If we can include protections in the Fair Work Act and workplace indicators, why not in our discrimination laws? We know that this is absolutely needed for the safety and security of women and their children to find their way out, and stay out of,abusive relationships.” – Julie Oberin, Chair of AWAVA

Read AWAVA’s full Media Release here

Weekly Round-up* – 15 March

As CSW57 is winding up in New York the AWAVA delegation have been working hard to support negotiations and secure outcomes to end violence against women and girls. No doubt there will be lots of newsworthy items from the UN early next week on the Agreed Conclusions – although news reports this week suggest continual blocking by some member states may stall negotiations. Women’s organisations globally have signed a statement urging member states not to renegotiate women’s rights.

CSW57 News

The New York Times reports concerns there will be no Agreed Conclusions
The Washington Post reports that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood says the current CSW57 draft violates islamic rules
This article looks further at women’s sexual and reproductive rights

Around the nation

This media release from Minister Collins gives a Pledge to All Women and Girls to continue Australia’s efforts to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls
New funding has been announced by Foreign Minister Bob Carr to help end violence against women in Cambodia
Clementine Ford questions why we keep asking women to protect themselves from rape
ABC reports on the Senate Inquiry into forced sterilisation
Julie McKay, UN Women Australia says that violence against women is why we need to keep discussing gender equality

Internationally

The UN has announced a study on the extent of violence against Indigenous women and girls
The small nation of Tuvalu has recognised violence against women as a growing concern
In Kenya, new Rites of Passage are being introduced as a step to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
A Director of Public Prosecutions study from the UK shows false allegations of rape and domestic violence are very rare
The UK National Union of Students have published a new research report looking at ‘Lad Culture’ in British Universities
In India, the prime accused in the Delhi Gang rape case was found dead in his jail cell in New Delhi
Read these great articles, one following on from Steubenville We’re Sick and Tired of Rape Being Treated Like an Unavoidable Joke and 5 ways we can teach men not to rape
From New Zealand this excellent video avoids victim-blaming and highlights responsibilities of others

AWAVA are now on Facebook – if you haven’t already ‘like’d our page, please do so to receive regular posts and updates from AWAVA and help us to build a Facebook following: http://www.facebook.com/AWAVAaustralia

ACT Women’s Grants Program

The Minister for Women, Joy Burch has called for applications for the ACT Women’s Grants Program. In 2012–13, there is a total funding of $130,000 available including an additional $30,000 for the inaugural Audrey Fagan Violence Prevention Grants.

Funding is available under the following three categories:

Category One – Capacity Building: seeks to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of community organisation to advance the objective and priorities of the ACT Women’s Plan.

The maximum funding available for a Capacity Building Project is $5,000 (GST Exclusive).

Category Two – Special Projects: seeks to advance the objectives and priorities of the ACT Women’s Plan by contributing to public policy, service development, or gendered research.

The maximum funding available for a Special Project is $25,000 (GST Exclusive).

Category Three – Audrey Fagan Violence Prevention Projects (new): seeks to progress one or more of the objectives outlined in the ACT Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Strategy 2011–2017.

The maximum funding available for an Audrey Fagan Violence Prevention Project is $15,000 (GST Exclusive).

Please note only one application per category may be submitted by an organisation/group. Applications close on 22 April 2013. All applications must be submitted online. This can be accessed at http://dhcs.smartygrants.com.au/

Please refer to the ACT Women’s Grants Guidelines 2012-2013 to ensure that your organisation/group is eligible. A copy of the guidelines are on the Women ACT website at: http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/women/grants_and_scholarships

For further information or assistance please contact the ACT Office for Women on 6205 0515 or 02 6207 2552 or via email [email protected]

Today is the National Day of Action Against Bullying here in Australia.

For those interested in real social change and the prevention of bullying and violence, the Social Justice Education service provides a range of supports for leaders, managers, policy officers and practitioners, in government, schools and universities, and also works with social service and other education service organisations, and parent, childcare, community and sporting organisations. Visit www.teachjustice.com.au for more information

*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only

Weekly Round-up* 1 March

The AWAVA crew were busy, busy, busy this week with final preparations for CSW57! AWAVA are very pleased to be sending a delegation of 7 women, with expertise across the preventing violence against women sector, joining hundreds of women globally, to negotiate outcomes for eliminating and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. AWAVA are sponsoring 4 parallel events with international partners from the Power of Peaks and Alliances and Thinking Big: A Convention for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to Australian-focussed events Using the Strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to End Violence Against Women and Stopping Violence Before It Happens: Primary Prevention Tools.

Keep an eye out on the website on on Twitter for updates and report-backs from the delegation – but to get things started, click here for the latest UN media release

Around Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on new findings on the factors that increase the risk of violence
There are calls in Victoria to re-instate funding for the Systemic Review of Family Violence Deaths which had its funding cut in 2010
In South Australia, the AHRC has told a Senate Inquiry that forced sterilisation is a form of violence against women and girls
The Herald Sun announces changes that will mean police can now issue on the spot ADVOs in NSW
From the Attorney General’s office this media release – New laws tackle forced married, people trafficking and other exploitation. Read Nine News’ take on the story here
The Federal Government announces the appointment of a National Children’s Commissioner
Telstra announces free silent phone numbers for victims/survivors of domestic and family violence
Australia Post joins with UN Women to raise funds for International Women’s Day
A new theatre production will help raise community awareness of violence against women

Internationally

In South Africa, amid ‘media frenzy’ over Oscar Pistorius, this article looks how “”Life as normal”” involves daily violence against women
In Egypt, rape and sexual assault in Cairo’s Tahrir Square are becoming increasingly more common and organised
Read and view this compelling story as a journalist captures domestic violence on camera (note: the photos at the beginning of the story are compelling, moving and at some stages quite graphic. To view them, use the scroll arrow on the right)

Get Involved!!

International Women’s Day

Call to Action! How you can make a difference without even leaving your seat!

This International Women™s Day, AWAVA wants to raise the profile of violence against women, and make it a topic of discussion in households around Australia and the world. We all know that the brighter we can shine a spotlight on this epidemic that affects 1 in 3 women around the world, the more action our communities and governments will take to end it, and make a real difference in the lives of women who are victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

It is AWAVA™s aim to raise awareness and get the conversation started by reaching out to the millions in the twitter-sphere and other social media spaces, and letting people know that violence against women must stop. On 8 March, International Women™s Day, we will be doing all we can to make ending violence against women (#endvaw) a ˜trending topic™ “ which means that millions of people are accessing the information and conversations on this issue – and this is where we need your help.

How you can help:

Already got a twitter account? Great!

Make sure you are following AWAVA_Women and re-tweet re-tweet re-tweet all of our messages on that day

Follow any other organisations/individuals who you notice are also tweeting with the hash tag #endvaw and retweet all of the tweets that are supportive of the message to end violence against women

Send this email to your friends, family, colleagues, networks, parliamentarians, neighbours, anyone you can think of that can help share this important message

Tweet tweet tweet all day long with your thoughts on why ending violence against women is important and what can be done “ make sure to include #endvaw every time you tweet! That is the only way someone looking for your message can find it

No twitter account? No worries!

Go to www.twitter.com and set one up in a few easy steps. You don™t have to use your real name, or enter your real location.

Take some time to ˜follow™ as many individuals and organisations supportive of the #endvaw message as you can “ many of these will in return follow you, so they will see all your posts to #endvaw

Make sure you are following AWAVA_Women and retweet retweet retweet all of our messages on that day

Follow any other organisations/individuals who you notice are also tweeting with the hash tag #endvaw and re-tweet all of the tweets that are supportive of the message to end violence against women

Send this email to your friends, family, colleagues, networks, parliamentarians, neighbours, anyone you can think of that can help share this important message

Tweet tweet tweet all day long with your thoughts on why ending Violence Against Women is important and what can be done “ make sure to include #endvaw every time you tweet! That is the only way someone looking for your message can find it

AWAVA will provide some example tweets leading up to the day, and some fast-fact sheets, and of course will be tweeting all day long with plenty of information you can re-tweet and share.

Set your reminders for 8 March and let™s get the conversation started!

Upcoming events

March

Register for AMaRWA’s Stand Up! Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women national conference on 28-30 April, early bird registration closes on 8 March: http://www.amarwaconference.org

For those of you based in Canberra, if you haven’t already make sure you take the opportunity to see The Women Who Made Canberra – an exhibition celebrating women in Canberra’s history, closing 17 March

21 March: 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, Find out more here

April

Stand-Up! Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women national conference, 28-30 April, Canberra

11-12 April: Child Aware Approaches Conference, Melbourne

16 April:Due to overwhelming demand WIRE in Victoria present another session of Understanding Financial Abuse in the context of Family Violence

May

13-15 May The White Ribbon International Conference, Sydney

Later

25-28 August 8th Australasian Council of Women and Policing conference will be held in Adelaide. Call for papers has been extended until 25 March

Internationally:

4-15 March 2013: 57th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW57), New York, priority theme: Eliminating and prevention all forms of violence against women and girls

*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only

Weekly Round-up* 22 February

AWAVA’s Chair, Julie Oberin, attended the inaugural National Rural Women’s Conference in Canberra to showcase Stopping Violence Against Women Before It Happens: A Practical Toolkit for Communities, developed in partnership with NRWC and CQU’s CDFVR. The National Women’s Alliances also launched Priorities for Women 2013, a joint project encouraging women to enrol to vote and to vote as women.

In other news around the country

Excellent news! The Senate Committee has recommended that domestic violence is included as a protected attribute in the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 (recommendation 3). The Committee added:

“”…this is an area where the Commonwealth must lead the way….The committee considers that this action, together with a further amendment to the Draft Bill, will assist victims of domestic violence to increasingly participate in the workforce and broader community…””

Read more on the announcements on flexible work and domestic violence
Minister Julie Collins says that domestic and family violence ‘is above politics‘
Victoria launches the Go4Zero campaign for eliminating violence against violence against women, a partnership between Victoria Police, the Victorian Coalition Government and the community
Victoria have also announced grants to address Koori Family Violence
Again in Victoria, research from the Australian Institute of Criminology has revealed Victorians are 4 times more likely to have been killed as a result of domestic violence or by an acquaintance than under other circumstances, read more in: 80% of killers are known to their victim
Queensland announces its contribution to the National Centre of Excellence
The ABC reports that around the globe women and girls are being most affected by the economic crisis, with an increase in sexual abuse and forced prostitution
From last week, read Minister Collins’ remarks on V-day and comments on the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children

Internationally

Globally preparations for the 57th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women are ramping up, listen to this podcast on how effective global high-level meetings can be at tackling violence against women or if grassroots community work holds the key
Advocates in India say more needs to be done to end violence against women whilst women are being held in police or military custody
Watch this youtube clip from Jackson Katz on Violence and Silence
Laura Bates asks Does Facebook have a problem with women?
There are calls in the UK to keep the identity of alleged rapists hidden
Still in the UK, and prosecutions are set to begin for parents who send their children overseas for female genital mutiliation/cutting
Iceland discusses tactics to ban access to violent pornography on the internet, and the UK says it will follow their lead
Many of you will remember the graphic we shared a few weeks ago showing the numbers of rapes and the legal outcomes (prosecution, conviction) – click here to access the UK version

Resources and Reports

New Reports:

The ADFVC have released Preventing the Abuse of Older People by their Family Members

Partners for Prevention (International) have published Preventing Violence Against Women: from Community Activism to Government Policy

Upcoming Events

February

27 Febuary: Getting Safe Against the Odds – Family violence and women with a disability – Training for workers who are currently working in the family violence sector to gain a better understanding of the context and experiences of women with disabilities who experience violence

March

Register for AMaRWA’s Stand Up! Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women national conference on 28-30 April, early bird registration closes on 1 March: http://www.amarwaconference.org

For those of you based in Canberra, if you haven’t already make sure you take the opportunity to see The Women Who Made Canberra – an exhibition celebrating women in Canberra’s history, closing 17 March

21 March: 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, Find out more here

April

Stand-Up! Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women national conference, 28-30 April, Canberra

11-12 April: Child Aware Approaches Conference, Melbourne

16 April:Due to overwhelming demand WIRE in Victoria present another session of Understanding Financial Abuse in the context of Family Violence

Later

13-15 May The White Ribbon International Conference, Sydney

25-28 August 8th Australasian Council of Women and Policing conference will be held in Adelaide . Call for papers is currently open

Internationally:

4-15 March 2013: 57th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW57), New York, priority theme: Eliminating and prevention all forms of violence against women and girls

*Articles published are not necessarily representative of the views and opinions of AWAVA, and are published as general information only

Priorities for Women 2013

Today the six National Women’s Alliances launched their joint project, Priorities for Women 2013. Together the Alliances will be working to increase women’s political participation as enshrined in article 7 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Using CEDAW as the framework, the Priorities for Women vision is for a truly inclusive electoral framework where the most marginalised and disadvantaged women are informed and empowered voters.

Priorities for Women is about recognising the enormous value of women’s votes. Our challenge to you is this:

Can you help to make this year’s election the election in which women truly matter?
Can you help to ensure that this election takes us a giant leap forward towards true implementation of the right to public and political participation?
Can you help us to make this the election in which women are truly counted?

Over the course of six months, the Alliances will be promoting a gendered understanding of national policy in a diverse range of areas. We hope that the next 6 months will cement these issues as priorities for women and, in doing so, encourage all women to participate more fully in political life.

Weekly Round-up* 15 February

Yesterday, 14 February, saw supporters of women’s rights come together worldwide to dance and celebrate V-Day’s One Billion Rising, calling for an end to violence against women. To read more about the UN’s support for this campaign click here. Access more information and see live recordings of One Billion Rising events from around the world by following this link. This will continue to be updated, so make sure you pop back often to see the latest posts.

In other news this week:

Around Australia

In exciting AWAVA news, continuation of funding for the six National Women’s Alliances has been confirmed – read our full media release here, and Minister Collins’ media release here
Want to know what AWAVA and the other Alliances have been doing? Read the summary report of the independent review of the National Women’s Alliances
Prime Minister Gillard announces policy to provide victims/survivors of domestic and family violence the right to request flexible work arrangements. Ludo McFerran from Safe at Work, Safe at Home, says that Australia is ‘leading the world’ on domestic violence workplace rights. Read more from Ludo in When domestic violence becomes a workplace problem
As part of Victoria’s Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children, Victoria will introduce an Australian first in addressing adolescent violence in the home
Nouria Salehi says that Australia must help fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan where close to 9/10 women have experienced violence

National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children Update

An update on the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) from the Office for Women:

The NCE will serve as a national research hub to enable researchers, policy makers and practitioners to link-up and provide evidence based responses to reduce domestic and family violence and sexual assault. This includes through facilitating strategic partnerships, both in Australia and overseas, between organisations, government agencies and services in a range of sectors that intersect with violence against women and their children, such as the mental health, drug and alcohol, justice, children™s programs, housing and Indigenous and men™s service sectors. The first priority for the NCE will be to develop a National Research Agenda to address gaps across sexual assault and domestic violence research, in primary prevention, children, service provision, justice responses, perpetrator interventions and workforce considerations, as well as taking into account international work.Processes are being finalised to establish the National Centre of Excellence in Sydney early this year.

And from the Minister’s office, the Chair of the National Centre of Excellence is announced

Internationally

Good news from the USA where the Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favour of re-authorising VAWA – something our American colleagues have been strongly lobbying, campaigning and advocating for, for months
In South Africa the rape and murder of a young woman just may be the tipping point to call government to account and to take action to end violence against women
In Ireland, women subjected to forced labour and abuse in Magdalene laundries have rejected the Prime Minister’s apology

Reports, Research and Resources

Position Paper – The Multi-Cultural Centre for Women’s Health has released its position paper on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

The Australian Institute of Family Studies has released The role of emerging communication technologies in experiences of sexual violence: A new legal frontier

The Australian Institute of Criminology’s Evaluation of the ACT Sexual Assault Reform Program is now available

AusAIDS’ report, Triple Jeopardy, from Cambodia looks at violence against women and disability and is relevant to the Australian context

CSW57 Preparations

How you can get involved:

Take some time to read and have your say by commenting on the CSW57 draft Agreed Conclusions by 20 February. Email us with your suggestions on UN language that should be included.

Get Involved!

FORCED CHILD MARRIAGE RESEARCH The National Children’s and Youth Law Centre (NCYLC) is continuing Australia’s first national research into the forced marriage of children.

How you can help

If you have had any experience with children in or at risk of a forced marriage, please contribute to the project by filling out the Centre™s survey by 22 March 2013

If you know of any caseworker, practitioner or organisation that has had experience with child victims of forced marriage, please forward this survey to them

You can access the survey by clicking here

If you have any feedback on the Draft Best Practice Response Guidelines on Forced Child Marriage please email AWAVA by 27 February.

If you would like any more information about the project, please contact the Project Officer, Ms Tina Jelenic, on (02) 9385 9589 or by email.

Upcoming Events

February

18- 20 February: The National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC)’s inaugural Conference, Canberra

19 February: Attend the launch of Keeping You and Your Job Safe: Information for workers experiencing family violence, Canberra

20 February: Launch of We Will Not Go Quietly – zine by and for sexual assault survivors, 6.30pm-8.00pm, Melbourne

27 Febuary: Getting Safe Against the Odds – Family violence and women with a disability – Training for workers who are currently working in the family violence sector to gain a better understanding of the context and experiences of women with disabilities who experience violence

March

21 March: 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, Find out more here

For those of you based in Canberra, if you haven’t already make sure you take the opportunity to see The Women Who Made Canberra – an exhibition celebrating women in Canberra’s history, closing 17 March

April

Stand-Up! Eliminating All Forms of Violence Against CALD Women national conference, 28-30 April, Canberra

11-12 April: Child Aware Approaches Conference, Melbourne

16 April:Due to overwhelming demand WIRE in Victoria present another session of Understanding Financial Abuse in the context of Family Violence

Later

13-15 May The White Ribbon International Conference, Sydney

25-28 August 8th Australasian Council of Women and Policing conference will be held in Adelaide . Call for papers is currently open

Internationally:

4-15 March 2013: 57th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW57), New York, priority theme: Eliminating and prevention all forms of violence against women and girls

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