Events Archives - Page 15 of 15

CSW57: Using New Technology to Address Violence Against Women and Girls

Hosted by the Australia Government on 4 March 2013, the side event ‘Using new technology to address violence against women and girls’, discussed the perils and potential of new technology in addressing violence against women. Panellists included the Hon. Julie Collins, Australian Minister for the Status of Women; AWAVA’s Chair, Julie Oberin; Hon. Lulu Xingwana, South African Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities and Cliona Saidlear, Policy and Communications Director at Ireland’s Rape crisis network.

All panellists provided examples of how social media is being used to raise awareness of violence against women, provide education and as a tool to change attitudes. Minister Collins discussed the federal government initiative www.theline.gov.au – an online forum that provides young Australians with a forum for respectful discussions about violence against women. Cliona described social media as a vehicle for “democratization of the conversation” and provided examples of blogs and online campaigns that have encouraged public discourse about violence against women. Hon. Xingwana discussed South Africa’s cyber safety campaign that allows people to interact and share information about violence against women via online social networks.

Julie encouraged a fearless approach to technology – so that women understand how technology and social media can be used. This will enable women to protect themselves from the potential harms of technology while maximizing the potential benefits.

Report by Aimee McVeigh – AWAVA CSW57 delegation

CSW57: Power of Peaks & Alliances

Report back from Aimee McVeigh, AWAVA Delegation on AWAVA’s opening Parallel Event on 6 March:

The strong winds and impending snow didn’t keep people away from AWAVA’s first parallel event this morning. Julie Oberin and Margaret Augerinos, both part of the AWAVA delegation at CSW, spoke with Marai Larasi (UK) and Cindy Southworth (USA) about the ‘Power of Peaks and Alliances.’

Julie opened the session by discussing AWAVA as an example of the power and reach that alliances can have by harnessing and amplifying women’s voices.

Margaret spoke about WESNET, the Women’s Services Network, a national women’s peak advocacy body that works on behalf of women and children who are experiencing or have experienced domestic or family violence.

Marai spoke from the perspective of both Imkaan and End Violence Against Women (EVAW), UK organisations. Imkaan is a black feminist organization dedicated to addressing violence against women and girls. Imkaan represents the perspectives of its members – frontline specialist women’s services. Marai went on to discuss EVAW, a coalition of individuals and organisations that operates completely independently of government to campaign to end all forms of violence against women.

Cindy spoke about the work of the USA’s National Network to End Domestic Violence – a national membership and advocacy organization of state domestic violence coalitions, allied organisations and individuals.

This morning’s discussion about the above peaks, alliances and coalitions illustrated the power of well-organised feminist voices in the collective struggle to end violence against women.

CSW57: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women

The AWAVA delegation members attending the 57th session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW), in New York, will be providing specialist knowledge and expertise on all forms of violence against women, bringing extensive experience from across Australia, and working with international partners to reach Agreed Conclusions. The representatives are:

Head of the delegation: Julie Oberin, Chair of AWAVA and WESNET, AWAVA Executive Member (VIC)
Fiona McCormack, CEO of DV Vic (VIC)
Dorinda Cox, NASASV Indigenous representative, AWAVA Executive Member (WA)
Aimee McVeigh, WLSA member, Principal Solicitor at the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal & Advocacy Service (QLD)
Margaret Augerinos, WESNET and CEO of Centre for Non-Violence, AWAVA Executive Member (VIC)
Tracy Howe, CEO of Women’s Refuge Movement NSW (NSW)
Samantha Bowden, NASASV NT representative (NT)

AWAVA will be sponsoring 4 Parallel Events and will be posting regular updates on interesting activities and reporting on events from the AWAVA delegation.

Parallel Events

Date of Event	Time	Location	Title of Event
Wednesday 6 March	8.30am	10th Floor Church Centre	*Power of Peaks and Alliances* Julie Oberin, Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) Margaret Augerinos, Women’s Services Network, Australia (WESNET) Marai Larasi, End Violence Against Women, UK (EVAW) Cindy Southworth, National Network to End Domestic Violence, USA (NNEDV)
Thursday 7 March	2.30pm	Guild Hall Armenian Convention Centre	*Using the Strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to Stop Violence Against Women* Dorinda Cox, Co-opted member for Indigenous issues, National Association of Service Against Sexual Violence Michelle Deshong, Program Manager, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance
Friday 8 March	12.30pm	Hardin Room, 11^th Floor, Church Centre	*Thinking Big: A Convention for the Elimination of Violence Against Women* Chair:Rebecca Bromhead, Australian National Committee for UN Women Professor Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women: Opening Event and introduction covering the normative gap and motivations for a treaty Julie Oberin, Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA), Australia: Why we need a Convention Elizabeth Broderick, Australian Human Rights Commission: The pros and cons of a Convention Lesley Ann Foster, Masimanyane Women’s Support Center: Re-politicising Violence Against Women Lily Greenan, Scottish Women’s Aid, Scotland: Mobilising around a Convention Marai Larasi, Imkaan & End Violence Against Women Coalition, UK: Ensuring Voice and Representation
Monday 11 March	12:30 pm	Chapel (CCUN building)	*Stopping Violence Before It Happens: Primary Prevention Tools* Julie Oberin, Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA): Stopping Violence Before It Happens: A Practical Toolkit for Communities Fiona McCormack, CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria: Harnessing the Power of the Media Dorinda Cox: Standards for Sexual Assault Primary Prevention Education Margaret Augerinos: CEO of Centre for Non-Violence: Solving the Jigsaw: changing a culture of violence into a culture of well-being

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.

Draft Agreed Conclusions Out for Comment: CSW57

The zero draft Agreed Conclusions for the 57th session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW57) is out now for comment, this formulates the basis for negotiations at CSW57. The theme this year is the Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

If you have any suggestions for language to include, based on previously agreed international agreements or conventions, please share these with the CSW57 AWAVA delegation by emailing AWAVA, please include the source reference. Shorter language insertions, especially key words to incorporate, are more likely to be considered.

We will share this information with the Community Sector representatives on the Australian Government Delegation for their discussions with the Australian Government.

Comments by 20 February please.

Access here: Zero Draft Agreed Conclusions – CSW57

Launch of NUS Safe Events Respectful Clubs and Societies (SERCS)

AWAVA is supporting and endorsing the Safe Events Respectful Clubs and Societies (SERCS) program that has been developed by one of our Advisory Group member organisations, the National Union of Students (NUS), by NUS Women’s Officer, Noni Sproule, in partnership with South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA)

SERCS is a resource and training that has been put together to assist clubs and societies and student organisations to run events which are inclusive and safe for all people. It has been created in recognition of the important role that student organisations play in the creation of culture and community within universities.

The project is being launched by Senator Clare Moore and is supported and endorsed by two of the commonwealth-funded National Women’s Alliances, AWAVA and the Equality Rights Alliance.

Launch Details:

Date: 10 July 2012

Time: 6pm

Where: Parliament House, Canberra

RSVP: email: [email protected] by 2 July

Click here for invite