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“‘Zoe’s Law’ if passed will for the first time bring ‘foetal personhood’ into Australian Law. This will undermine women’s rights in NSW, restrict access to medical care for both the foetus and the mother, and further stigmatise pregnancy in NSW.

This Bill is still before the Legislative Council (the upper house of NSW) and could be called for a vote as early as this Thursday (13 Nov 2014).

The last possible day that they can bring the Bill on to a vote is Thursday 20 November 2014, then the Bill will lapse and will not be able to be voted on in this form ever again.

Join us to protect our right to choose by filling the Legislative Council gallery and wear something purple.

TIME: 9:30am
PLACE: Legeslative Council Gallery
WHAT TO WEAR: Purple
WHY: To make sure Politicians vote No to Zoe’s Law

We will know whether the bill will be brought to a vote only days before it happens so be prepared! We will give you as much warning as we have.

Watch over our rights.”

“Event Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 – 10:00 to 11:15
Event City: Melbourne
Event Type: Seminar
Event Venue: AIFS Balluk Room

Professor The Honourable Nahum Mushin

AIFS Seminar/Webinar Series

A national apology was offered to people affected by forced adoption on 21 March 2013. In this seminar, Professor Mushin outlines the process leading to the apology, elements of drafting of the document itself and issues that needed to be considered. The essential aspect of any public apology is the concrete measures put in place to overcome the harms and prevent the same from reoccurring. He outlines the tasks of the Working Group he chaired to guide these improvements in services to those affected, and what additional lessons can be learned from past practice.”

For more information, visit: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/seminars/2014/mushin/index.php

“YWCA Canberra is proud to present an in conversation event with Australia’s first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, as she discusses her memoir, My Story.

Tickets are now on sale via their website. Members will receive a special rate of $90, and tickets for non-members will be $135.

When: Monday 10 November 2014
6.30pm – 9pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery
Gordon Darling Hall &
Terrace Rooms
King Edward Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600

The event will feature an in conversation session with Julia Gillard, as well as a book signing.”

For more information, visit: https://ywca-canberra.org.au/product/in-conversation-with-julia-gillard/

“The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates November 25- International Day Against Violence Against Women- and December 10- International Human Rights Day- in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

– raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
– strengthening local work around violence against women
– establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
– providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
– demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
– creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women”

For more information, visit: http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/about/campaign-profile

“Date: Mon, 03/11/2014 – 09:30
Location: Australian Human Rights Commission: Hearing Room 1, Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney 2000

A workshop to share information and insights on the UPR process, discuss key human rights issues and develop collective strategies ahead of Australia’s upcoming UPR

Australia’s upcoming review by the UN Human Rights Council provides an important opportunity for Australian NGOs to encourage and influence the Australian Government to improve the protection and promotion of human rights and fulfil its international obligations. The UPR provides a number of opportunities for NGO involvement. We are working to co-ordinate a Joint NGO Report on behalf of a large coalition of NGOs representing the breadth of civil society in Australia. Experience has shown that we get better outcomes when we coordinate report-writing and advocacy with UN mechanisms.

This NGO workshop is being held in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Participants will share insights and learnings from Australia’s first UPR, discuss progress on the implementation of recommendations from the previous review, and discuss key issues, opportunities and strategies for the upcoming UPR in 2015.

Date: Monday 3 November 2014

Time: 9:30am -12:30pm

RSVP: by Wednesday 29 October”

For more information, visit: http://www.equalityrightsalliance.org.au/event/ngo-workshop-australias-universal-periodic-review-sydney

“Reclaim the Night Sydney will be held at Hyde Park on the 31st October 2014. Reclaim the Night is a global annual protest against gendered violence traditionally held on the last Friday in October each year.

At 6.30pm we will rally, listening to a variety of women speaking on issues from the closures of women’s-only refuges to the rising prevalence of street harrassment (speakers TBA!)

Then we will RECLAIM THE NIGHT, marching through the CBD to raise awareness of the issues facing women in 2014 and make our voices heard.

All are welcome. Gendered violence is not a ‘women’s issue’, it is a human rights issue that requires everyone’s participation. We need to all commit to take action against all forms of violence and discrimination faced by women and girls.

DATE: Friday 31st October
TIME: 6.30PM
PLACE: Hyde Park North

We can make a difference, but we need to do it together.

*We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this event is taking place, the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and pay respect to their Elders and families*”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/350039681824271/

This year, Reclaim the Night in Canberra will be hosted by the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

Location: Garema Place, Canberra
Date: Friday the 31st of October
Time: 6:00pm

This years focus is “Reclaiming our Space.”

Reclaim the Night is a community event that has been held in Canberra for many years. It began as an angry protest against messages women were given by police to stay indoors so as to not be sexually assaulted or murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper (a murderer and rapist in Leeds). News quickly spread and soon Reclaim the Night marches were happening in diverse countries across the world. These days it is a community event to symbolize everyone’s right to be safe in our community.

It is also part of a global movement to raise awareness about sexual assault and its impacts on the community and women, children, young people, families and men. Sexual violence impacts on 1 in three girls and 1 in six boys before the age of 18. 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted across their adult lifetimes. This can result in a long term legacy of shame, silence and self blame for survivors. These impacts can be challenged by increasing our understanding of sexual assault trauma and the harm it can do to people and communities.

Sexual violence also has tremendous impacts on our community through the enormous cost of untreated trauma on our economy. By 2020 the cost of violence against women in Australia is set to top 15.6 billion dollars. International trauma experts predict that the health burden of untreated trauma will soon overtake heart disease and obesity as the largest issue for governments and communities to respond to.

Survivors of sexual violence(particularly child sexual assault) are over represented in all of our systems at rates of 90% for women, and 70% for men. These systems include mental health, prisons, homelessness services, drug and alcohol services.

We hope you can join us to continue to raise awareness about this very important issue.

“31 October 2014: Women unite, reclaim the night! Not Silent ! Not Violent ! My little black dress does not mean yes!

Despite the massive advances in equality the women’s movement has brought us, one issue where the statistics never seem to change is that of sexual violence. 1 in 3 women will experience sexual violence in her life, and while abhorrent these statistics aren’t surprising when we live in a culture that so brutally objectifies and dehumanises women. This level of violence is an epidemic and it has to stop. We need a government that will fully fund all services related to the issue, from shelters and counseling services to proper consent education and support for vulnerable women.

But it won’t just be handed to us. The history of the women’s movement has shown we have to make demands and fight for every advance. Violence and the oppression of women are not inherent to human nature, they absolutely can be stopped. But we need strength in numbers to combat such an overwhelming issue. With all eyes on Brisbane for the G20 – Let’s make the people who can impact these issues stand up and take notice of such an important yet rarely spoken about topic. No one likes talking about sexual violence – but it starts by having the courage to challenge the culture around you and speaking out.

So come along to Reclaim the Night 2014, bring your placards, noisemakers, banners, friends and most of all your VOICE. Together we will fight and together we can win!

Reclaim the Night will start at Emma Miller Place (located off Roma St) with a rally at 5pm, before marching over Kurilpa Bridge to Kurilpa Park where we will have more speakers and hold a vigil for those lost to gendered violence. We will also be selling cold drinks and tshirts at Kurilpa Park.”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/309797525895764/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

“DVNSW Conference 2014
Domestic Violence NSW
Wednesday, 22 October 2014 at 9:00 AM – Thursday, 23 October 2014 at 4:00 PM (AEDT)
Surry Hills, NSW”

For more information, visit: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/contact-organizer?eid=12631139077

“6:30pm – 8:00pm

Theme: 35 years light the night #lightthenight #rtn

Join us in protest against all forms of male violence and harassment against women for the 35th anniversary of Reclaim the Night in Melbourne.

We will march together calling for justice and full funding of support services for survivors. We call for an end to gender inequalities – the underlying cause of violence against women. We stand together to demand our basic human right to safety and the right to participate in society to the fullest extent, free from harassment, discrimination and violence.

As with the last two year’s rally, the march will be led by groups of women and any woman wishing to participate are welcome at the front. Women are welcome to bring their children to this leading group. Women-identifying members of our community are very welcome in this first group.

Following this first group, we invite men – along with women who’d like to march with them – to join us in solidarity.

Bring signs, banners and a noisy rejection of the status quo!

Wear blue if you can

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land in which this event is taking place, the land of the Wurundjeri and pay respect to their Elders and families.

Reclaim the Night Melbourne welcomes everyone to the march regardless of race, religion, occupation, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or disability.”

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/376128679211254/