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Media Release: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance is reflecting on Australia’s achievements and ongoing challenges in preventing male violence against women.

 

AWAVA stands in solidarity with those whose lives have been impacted by violence, with survivors who fight for justice and an end to violence, and with the individuals and organisations committed to preventing male violence against women and achieving gender equality.

 

We are heartened that there is finally a national dialogue on the issue of male violence against women and that this dialogue has placed gendered violence firmly on the political agenda. Further, we are encouraged by the improvements we have seen in the media’s response to this violence, by women’s use of social media to progress gender equality, and by the thousands of Australia women, and men, who work tirelessly to support survivors of violence, to challenge gender inequality, and to effect social change.

 

Yet, the impact of gender-based violence for Australian women, their families and their communities remains overwhelming. Across the country one in three women experience physical violence and one in five experience sexual violence since the age of 15. Almost one woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner each week. Women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities and women with disabilities experience particularly high rates of violence.

 

It is obvious that, in spite of our collective efforts, not enough is being done to prevent male violence against women. Further, it is clear that the responsibility to address this violence falls on all of us.

 

If we are to genuinely address male violence against women we must come together as a community to demand action, we must challenge attitudes and institutions that normalise and justify violence and we must work together to build a society that has a zero tolerance to gender-based violence and inequality.

 

If we are to genuinely address male violence against women we must come together as a community to demand action, we must challenge attitudes and institutions that normalise and justify violence and we must work together to build a society that has a zero tolerance to gender-based violence and inequality.

 

For comment:
Julie Oberin, Chair (email, 0419 539 346)
Sophie Hardefeldt, Program Manager (email, 0428 541 396)

 

For a PDF copy of this media release, click here

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Submissions Open: Australian Government priorities for the 59th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59)

The Office for Women would like to invite all interested individuals, non-government and civil society organisations to provide input into the Australian Government priorities for the 59th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59), via a written submission process.

 

CSW59 will focus on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, including current challenges that affect its implementation and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Commission will undertake a review of progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 20 years after its adoption at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The review (Beijing+20) will also include the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, the first five-year assessment conducted after the adoption of the Platform for Action, which highlighted further actions and initiatives. The session will also address opportunities for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women in the post-2015 development agenda.

 

As you may be aware, the position taken by the Australian Government on various issues, guides our engagement in the annual CSW process, particularly during the negotiation of language in the Agreed Conclusions, the focus of discussions with other participating nations, and when determining Australia’s side events. The Office for Women would like to ensure that the views of Australia’s non-government community are taken into consideration during this process.

 

A template has been created as a guide in order to assist you or your organisation in making a submission. Use of the template (or similar document) is strongly recommended, but not essential.  Submissions will be shared with the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women and relevant Departmental officials for their consideration during the whole-of-government consultation process for determining Australian Government negotiation priorities, and may also be used in development of briefings and background material for the delegation.

 

When drafting your submission please also note the following guidance:

  • Submissions should be kept to six pages maximum, focussing on the key issues and suggestions for your organisation under one or more of the 12 critical areas under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action – these are poverty, education and training, health, the economy, power and decision-making, human rights, armed conflict, institutional mechanisms, the environment, media, violence against women and the girl child.
  • The OfW would prefer to receive one submission per organisation, however, where your organisation has a head office as well as regional sub groups or branches, separate submissions may be made by each

 

Please send all submissions via email. Submissions are due midnight Sunday 30 November 2014.

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Media Release: Second Action Plan 2013-2016 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022: Moving Ahead

MEDIA RELEASE

Second Action Plan 2013-2016 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022 

Moving Ahead

The Australian Women Against Violence Alliance commends the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments for their release of the Second Action Plan 2013-2016 of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children on June 27, 2014. The impact of Violence against women for Australian women, their families and their communities is devastating. Across the country one in three women experience physical violence and one in five experience sexual violence since the age of 15. Almost one woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner each week.

AWAVA applauds the Governments’ prioritisation of reducing violence against women and their leadership in strengthening our mechanisms to prevent and respond to this violence. We recognize the particular vulnerability of women from marginalised communities to violence and are pleased that the Second Action Plan 2013-2016 specifically targets high risk communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women and women with a disability.

Julie Oberin, the Chair of AWAVA, said today that she “welcomes the Action Plan’s focus on improving support services for women and children who are experiencing violence, whilst also addressing the root causes of violence against women such as gender inequality and community attitudes supporting and enabling violence to continue.” Ms. Oberin states that “it is a key strategy to engage with the media and key community institutions.”

AWAVA also welcomes the Senate Inquiry into domestic violence.

AWAVA looks forward to supporting the implementation of the Second Action Plan over the next 3 years. In particular, AWAVA is excited to be facilitating an International Conference on the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children in collaboration with The Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and Children in late 2015/early 2016.

 

For comment: Julie Oberin, Chair (email or 0419539346) Sophie Hardefeldt, Program Manager (email or 0418574018)

A pdf version of this media release is available here.

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Launch of the Second Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022

On Friday 27 June, 2014, the Second Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 was launched. More information about the Second Action Plan is available on the Department of Social Services website, or click here for a pdf version.

Also available are shorter fact sheets to explain different aspects of the Plan:

 

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Submissions into the Development of the Second Action Plan

The Department of Social Services recently accepted submissions on the development of the Second Action Plan (2013 – 2016). The Second Action Plan forms part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-22 (the National Plan), which is a 12-year strategy which aims to bring together Commonwealth, state and territory government efforts, as well as the important work being done by civil society, the business sector and the Australian community more broadly to make a sustained reduction in the levels of violence against women and their children.

The community was invited to answer six questions in furtherance of the development of the Second Action Plan.

AWAVA submitted to the Department, and you can read our submission here.

 

Repository of Publicly Available Submissions

  1. Women’s Legal Services Australia
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International Women’s Day 2014: Message from Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2014, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash sends her greetings to the National Women’s Alliances and acknowledges the work we collectively do to further gender equality and equity.

 

 

We thank the Minister for her kind words and look forward to continuing to engage, collaborate and work with her!

 

 

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Media Release: One Billion Rising

The Australian Women Against Violence Alliance welcomes women and girl’s leadership of and participation in the global One Billion Rising Movement. We believe such important campaigns continue to raise awareness of the nature, prevalence, and consequences of gender-based violence.

Please follow the link to read our One Billion Rising media release

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Holiday Message from Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash

 

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash has acknowledged the vital work of the six National Women’s Alliances and has expressed her continuing belief and support for the work we do.

We thank the Minister for her kind words and look forward to continuing to engage, collaborate and work with her next year.

 

AWAVA Women.

Please click here for a transcript.

 

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Media Release: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – 25 November 2013

25 November has been marked by women’s and anti-violence activists as a day focused on the elimination of violence since 1981. In 1999 the United Nations declared 25 November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). 25 November also starts 16 Days of Activism on ending violence against women and girls.  AWAVA Chair, Julie Oberin writes:

“The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a reminder that violence against women and girls is a global issue and that ending this violence is everyone’s responsibility. Today is an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come, to acknowledge what else needs to be done, and to renew our efforts and reaffirm our commitment. Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world today. It affects women and girls across all cultures and societies and remains a significant public health and global development issue. Today, let us remember that violence against women and girls is both a cause and consequence of gender and structural inequalities, a construct of power, and though prevalent- it can be prevented. Australia has an exciting opportunity through the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children to be a global leader and to drive the requisite social change needed to prevent violence against women and girls. We need governments, specialist preventing and responding to violence against women sectors, schools, business, industry, media and communities to join forces and work in partnership to end violence against women and girls. We need a long-term, sustainable, comprehensive, whole-of-community approach to prevent and ultimately end violence against women and girls.”

Read AWAVA’s full media release here

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