It is with sadness that we inform you that Amy Blain AWAVA’s Program Manager has resigned. Amy has been on parenting leave and has made the difficult decision to not return to AWAVA. Amy felt it was time to move on, seeking new challenges and opportunities in the preventing violence against women sector. Amy has been an amazing Program Manager for AWAVA over the last 18 months and we are all sad to see her go. We wish her all the very best for whatever she decides to do in the future. Amy has been integral in establishing AWAVA as a sound and strong National Women’s Alliance focusing on all forms of violence against women and their children. Staff, the AWAVA Advisory Committee and the WESNET Committee as lead agency of AWAVA thank you Amy and wish you all the very best for the future. Amy passes on her thanks and gratitude to you all  and has thoroughly enjoyed her position with AWAVA.  If you would like to contact Amy her personal email is here.

Around the nation

• In this powerful article, a survivor writes about their journey through emotional abuse
• This piece presents a cogent argument for why ‘Zoe’s Law’ should not pass into legislation

Around the world

• In the UK, TV star Chris Fountain has been sacked after videos were released showing the 25-year-old rapping about sexual violence 
• Indian journalist Deepanjana Paul writes that the recent gang rape of a young photo journalist in Mumbai on 22^nd August 2013, “violates all women”
• This article from The Guardian shines a spotlight on the important role police reform must play in ending spiralling violence against women in India
• In Cambodia, a new online mapping tool has been released to assist efforts to track and report incidences of gender-based violence and harness the ability of young  people to shift cultural norms
• American actor and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commission for Refugees, Angelina Jolie, has “urged people to join in the fight against sexual violence in warzones” 
• Also in the US, Facebook Executive Sheryl Sandberg’s book ‘Lean In’ was critiqued “as a manual for navigating the workplace” and a book that “teaches women more about how to serve their companies than it teaches companies about how to be fairer places for women to work”

Publications and Resources

• In the US, the National Network to End Domestic Violence has released its ‘Privacy and Safety on Facebook – A Guide for Survivors of Abuse’

Get Involved!

• AWAVA sister National Women’s Alliance, the Equality Rights Alliance, has released the Housing Stress-O-Meter – a two minute online survey designed to uncover hidden housing stress in Australian communities. The intersections between women and children’s experiences of violence and the enhanced vulnerability that housing stress creates means this is incredibly important work
• The National Rural Women’s Coalition, also one of the National Women’s Alliances, has  opened registration to its free monthly webinar series ‘A Cuppa With’ where rural women can listen to inspiration and like-minded women without leaving home
• The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) will be coordinating National Child Protection Week 2013 running from 1-7 September 2013.  Event registration is now open
• Registration for the 2nd National LGBTIQ Domestic and Family Violence Conference ‘Stronger links for safer communities, because it’s all of our business’ has opened and the conference will be hosted in Surry Hills, NSW from Sept 19th-20th, 2013

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

The AWAVA team spent last week in Melbourne coordinating the 2013 Advisory Group Members’ Symposium. From Mon 12 – Wed 14 August, delegates contributed their expertise to lively discussions shaping the national agenda to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence. We heard exciting updates from our state and territory representatives. Also, we enjoyed highly informative sessions with guest speakers CEO of the White Ribbon Foundation Libby Davies and Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards, AO, from the National Centre of Excellence. It was a productive, meaningful and re-energising three days. Furthermore, it was an opportunity to celebrate our achievements and re-affirm our collective commitment to ending violence against women. We would like to thank everyone who was involved for their time and passion.

Importantly, we would also like to thank you, our readers, for the pivotal role you play in harnessing and amplifying the global effort to keep women and children safe.

As campaigning for the federal election intensifies, social commentary must commit itself to moving away from political rhetoric. As the election date edges closer, AWAVA remains aware that violence against women and children will cost the Australian economy $15.6 billion per year by 2021-2022 unless effective action is taken to prevent this violence. Violence against women and girls is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality in all sectors of society. Hence, it must be addressed by promoting women’s empowerment and listening to the diversity of their experiences with commitment, integrity and respect.

Attendees of the 2013 Advisory Group Members’ Symposium standing in solidarity to support the joint National Women’s Alliances Project – Women Vote 2013

Around the nation

• From Canberra, the National Women’s Alliance’s independent ‘how to vote’ videos for the Senate and House of Representatives have been translated into Greek, Italian, Arabic and Chinese as part of the Women Vote 2013 campaign, which encourages women to use their vote in an independent, informed and effective way
• The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hold a public hearing in Sydney on Monday 16 September 2013
• In Victoria, Disability Services and Reform Minister Mary Wooldridge announced a new initiative that “provides immediate access to funds to meet the disability support needs of women and children experiencing a family-violence crisis, enabling them to remain safe in their home or to access family-violence crisis accommodation” and among others, the Minister acknowledged the fantastic work of one of AWAVA’s member organisations, Women with Disabilities Australia

Around the world

• The International News Safety Institute launched a global survey into violence against female journalists and have invited all women working in the news media to participate
• In the Pacific Islands, 26 representatives from six Pacific Island countries came together in a five-day regional workshop to combat violence against women. Meeting on the International Day of Youth, attendees believe that empowering young people is a vital way to end the intergenerational cycle of violence in homes and communities across the Pacific region
• A new study found that in Papua New Guinea, 70% of women will be raped or physically assaulted in their lifetime
• In the USA, an article in the Journal of Women’s Health found that the best-selling novel ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ actually perpetuates the problem of violence against women despite its promotion as a tale of erotic romance

Publications and Resources

• The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse has released a new paper called ‘Improving responses to refugees with backgrounds of multiple trauma’

Get Involved!

• The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) will be coordinating National Child Protection Week 2013 running from 1-7 September 2013.  Event registration is now open.

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest onl

Today was the first day of the AWAVA members’ symposium. Advisory Group members flew in from across the country meet in Melbourne. This time will be used to help harness and amplify cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional efforts to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence. We are very excited to host two exceptional guest speakers – CEO of the White Ribbon Foundation Libby Davies and Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards AO.

Watch this space for progress. Follow us on facebook and twitter for live updates!

Around the nation

• Darwin’s only frontline NGO specialising in sexual assault services, Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Rape, was granted $40,000 until Dec 2013 by the NT Government as part of possible first steps towards an territory-wide strategy to combat violence against women
• The joint National Women’s Alliances campaign ‘Priorities for Women’ was featured in Future Politicians following their interview with Program Manager for Equality Rights Alliance Helen Dalley-Fisher
• In WA, Attorney General Michael Mischin requested the first ever comprehensive review victim/survivors’ experiences of the criminal justice system
• McDonald’s Australia brokered a watershed agreement giving their 85,000 employees to access domestic violence leave
• Furthermore, Swinburne University  of Technology finalised a new Enterprise Agreement with the National Tertiary Education Union increasing workplace protections and entitlements for those experiencing domestic violence
• In NSW, the recently formed NSW Domestic and Family Violence Council, which advises government on relevant policy and programs, appointed eight non-government representatives to its existing government membership
• NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward announced a new $1.5 million partnership between Family and Community Services and TAFE NSW to provide education, training and professional development for frontline workers assisting victims/survivors of domestic and family violence
• A two-year research project from the University of Technology Sydney added to the body of evidence confirming that victim/survivors of childhood abuse experience increased rates of chronic health conditions in later life

Around the world

• In Japan, advocates for a United Nations-proclaimed day of remembrance for wartime sex slaves (known as ‘comfort women’) organised a symposium to spearhead their campaign to end wartime sexual assault
• In Fiji, Vanuakula Village took unprecedented steps towards empowering women and communities to overcome gender-based violence because they recognised, “true development cannot be achieved without empowering the women as they are the key agents of change in their communities”
• In the US, news outlet MSNBC cast a critical eye over the most recent moves from the Pentagon to combat sexual assault within its ranks by drafting six new executive actions
• In Canada, growing concerns over the prevalence of violence against women and girls, especially in Indigenous populations, spiralled to new heights with a crucial visit from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Publications and Resources

• The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute published a research and policy bulletin entitled ‘Issue 164: Preventing homelessness for women and children who have experience domestic and family violence’
• The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault released a new publication called ‘The role of forensic medical evidence in the prosecution of adult sexual assault’
• The National Online Resource Centre for Violence Against Women produced a new resource, ‘Special Collection: Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer (LGBTQ) Communities’

Get Involved!

• AWAVA Member Organisation, the Association of Women Educators (AWE), circulated a Community Engagement Survey to better understand and respond to the needs and interests of their current and potential members

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

This week, AWAVA attended consultations in Canberra for the new national Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children. AWAVA is excited to embark on this process and welcomes the valuable additions this new foundation will create to complement  the ongoing efforts of the women’s services sector. AWAVA circulated a media release commending the new foundation.

AWAVA Chairperson, Julie Oberin, attended the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Safety Net Project Technology Summit 2013 in California, USA. This summit provided “a unique training opportunity focussing on the various complex issues and concerns that come from the intersection of technology and domestic and sexual violence, stalking and trafficking.”  Exciting outcomes included new online privacy and safety guidelines for victim/survivors.

Finally, the federal election was called by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for 7 September 2013. As political campaigning intensifies, AWAVA continues to encourage women to use their vote in an effective, informed and independent manner. This election is a critical chance for all Australian citizens to have their voices heard. For apolitical, bipartisan information on how to vote, please check out the women vote website. This site is the lynchpin of the National Women’s Alliances ‘Priorities for Women’ campaign.

Around the nation

• In the Canberra Times , Chair of the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children, Natasha Stott Despoja, continues to speak out against domestic, family and sexual violence and highlights the importantance of primary prevention
• In Victoria, activist and advocate Angela Barker continued to raise awareness about violence against women by sharing her incredible personal story during a visit to students at Kurnai College in the LaTrobe Valley
• The first picture of Tracy Connelly, who was brutally murdered in St Kilda, was released by her partner of 19 years Tony Melissovas, in preparation for a candelight vigil near their home and also to “honour her memory and help share her story with the world”.
  
  

Around the world

• In the US, Soraya Chemaly delivered a searing analysis of the social myths and harmful narratives that erupted in response to the sentencing of Cleveland kidnapper, rapist and murderer, Arial Castro
• In Burma, the Myanmar Times covered moves by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement to draft laws criminalising domestic violence and hence strengthen the fight to shift cultural norms with assistance from a network of 98 women’s groups called the  Gender Equality Network (GEN)
• In South Africa, teachers in Mpumalanga lobbied the government to extend the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign to 365 days and called “on educators and pupils at the school to continue taking education seriously as it assists in eradicating various social ills that lead to criminal behaviour”
• In the US, this insightful opinion piece acknowledged the steps forward taken by President Barack Obama but critiqued the shortfall in current efforts to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence
• In the US, at a summit attended by AWAVA Chair Julie Oberin, the National Network to End Domestic Violence and Facebook partnered to create new online guidelines for privacy and safety aimed at assisting victim/survivors of abuse
• In Spain, the Council of Ministers announced that 1.54 billion euros will be spent over the next three years to fund a National Strategy for the eradication of violence against women  and Vice-President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said this is an “ambitious and most comprehensive project which will ensure that Spain remains at the forefront of what is being done by the European Union to protect women”

Publications and Resources

• As part of Homeless Persons Week running from 5-11 August 2013, Homelessness Australia released an informative publication illuminating the intersection between homelessness and domestic and family violence

Get Involved!

• The Faculty of Law UNSW has partnered with Victim Services from the Department of Attorney-General and Justice NSW to conduct a study into the participation of victims of crime in NSW court processes. They are investigating and evaluating how the needs of victims of crime can be best served by the NSW criminal justice system. Part of their study involves a survey where victim/survivors will be asked about their engagement with court processes but not about the personal details of the particular crime they experienced. All survey responses will remain confidential. To participate, please follow this link
• The 2013 Anti-Slavery Australia Freedom Awards are calling for nominations. These awards “will recognise outstanding work and contributions to initiatives against slavery, slavery-like practices, including forced labour and forced marriage, and human trafficking” and they close on 9 August 2013
• The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) will be coordinating National Child Protection Week 2013 running from 1-7 September 2013.  Event registration is now open.

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

This week, AWAVA welcomed the launch of a new National Foundation to prevent to violence against women and their children. Chaired by former Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, this foundation represents an incredibly important commitment from both the Federal and Victorian governments to eliminate gender-based violence. Separately, the Hon. Minister Collins also announced 3 milllion dollars in funding for research into preventing perpetrators of violence from re-offending.  In response , AWAVA has developed a media release commending this step as part of a broader strategy to prevent violence against women and girls.

It was an exciting week full of rousing announcements and developments for the women’s sector. AWAVA’s collaborative and long-term vision to prevent and eliminate all violence against women has been energised by these renewed efforts. We look forward to continuing strengthening partnerships at all levels for the benefit of women and children everywhere.

Around the nation

• The Minister for Women, the Hon. Julie Collins, and Victorian Minister for Community Services, the Hon. Mary Wooldridge launched a new Foundation to prevent and protect women and their children from violence chaired by former Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja. Check out their promotional video, facebook page and coverage from the Herald Sun, the Australian,the Guardian in the UK, Sunrise and online media
• The Minister for Women, the Hon. Julie Collins, also announced a 3 million dollar investment into research on preventing perpetrators of violence from reoffending
• In Victoria, the deputy editor of the Bendigo Advertiser newspaper won an Eliminating Violence Against Women Award for her work raising awareness of domestic violence in the community and was pictured alongside AWAVA Chairperson Julie Oberin
• The Unslut Project has challenged the dangerous culture of ‘slut shaming’ by creating an online space for young women to share their experiences, ask question and receive answers. Contributors noted this site is equally useful for educators working to spread awareness, “As educators, we have a responsibility to talk about victim-blaming and slut-shaming with students. By talking about the way society polices girls and women, based on the way they dress or their perceived sexual activity, we have the opportunity to foster caring learning environments, prevent suffering and save lives.”
• In Melbourne, the brutal murder of Tracy Connelly was a confronting reminder of the ongoing experiences of violence that all women and children face, and the King’s Tribune provided useful information on how to help the community Tracy left behind
• In Victoria, the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service gave unique access to the Herald Sun so the newspaper could  report on the realities of working at the frontline of family violence
• In Victoria, Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay was joined by Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and AFL Chief Andrew Demetriou in calling for high-profile men to speak out to end against family violence
• The National Women’s Alliances joint project Women Vote 2013  received coverage from online media focussing on why it is crucial for women to cast an effective, informed and independent vote

Around the world

• UNICEF released the most comprehensive compilation of data and analysis on female genital mutilation / cutting to date in an important new report showing rates of FGM/C declining in many countries
• In North India, a powerful dance-drama performance at an annual teaching principals’ meeting energised ongoing efforts to sensitise students and teaching staff to gender-based violence
• In Nepal, women’s rights activists have been staging weekly protests since April to call on policy-makers to drive the elimination of violence against women by establishing a fast-track court and amending rape laws
• In England, the Crown Prosecution Service reported promising increases in conviction rates for violence against women following the release of the CPS Violence Against Women and Girls Report 2012 – 2013

Get Involved!

• Join the joint National Women’s Alliances Project Women Vote 2013 by participating in the “Women! Use your Vote” campaign
• The NSW Government recently released a series of documents relating to the NSW Domestic and family violence framework (reforms) for public consultation.  Responses to their survey are due by 5:00pm on 30 July 2013

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

This week AWAVA has been supporting the launch of the joint National Women’s Alliances Project- Women Vote 2013. The six National Women’s Alliances have come together to encourage women to use their votes in the 2013 Federal election. We think that it is important that women’s voices are heard in this election. We want women to vote in a way that reflects the diverse lives and experiences of women in Australia.

AWAVA Chairperson Julie Oberin attended the EVAs on 19th July- Congratulations to all the winners of the EVAs Media Awards for excellence in the reporting of violence against women

Around the nation

• “Australian boys need to be taught an ”alternative way of being men” if the community is to break a cycle of domestic violence fuelled by aggressive and physical stereotypes of masculinity”
• In Victoria, the award-winning Bsafe program faces an uncertain future
• In Western Australia, “domestic violence laws will be put under the legal microscope as part of the first comprehensive review into how victims are treated by the WA justice system”
• In Campbelltown, pubs and bars “stand up to violence against women“
• In Victoria, a man with a history of violence “who subjected a woman to a “sustained and brutal” assault” has been jailed sending an unequivocal message against domestic violence
• “The New South Wales government is setting up a telephone hotline for men who perpetrate domestic violence in a bid to shift the focus to early intervention”
• Ross Honeywill, the national convenor of the of the Centre for Gender Equity, writes that  although “women are running neck and neck with their male counterparts in Australia’s universities. And they are dominating important professional categories…any semblance of equity appears a long way off“

Around the world

• In this article, Prof Nadje Al Ali writes that “women in Iraq bear the brunt of increasing levels of gender-based violence, inadequate infrastructure and poverty”
• In the UK, grocery shop chain Londis has apologised after one of its branches used the term ‘wife beater’ to advertise a brand of lager
• In India, the Supreme Court, in a bid to stop acid attacks on women, “has ordered national and state governments to regulate the sale of acid chemicals by classifying them as a poison”
• In Malawi, President “Dr. Joyce Banda has called on non-governmental organization to help the country in fighting against gender based violence”
• “A Norwegian woman has spoken out about the 16-month prison sentence she received in Dubai after reporting a rape incident to police”
• In Scotland, the prostitution and sex work criminalisation versus legalisation debate heats up

Publications and Resources

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published research on the “ Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence“

Get Involved!

• Join the joint National Women’s Alliances Project Women Vote 2013 by participating in the “Women! Use your Vote” campaign

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

This week AWAVA heard news of the departure of Penny Williams as Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls. The position of the Global Ambassador for Women and Girls is responsible for high-level advocacy to promote Australian Government policies and activities regarding gender equality and the social, political and economic empowerment of women and girls. Ms Williams, a passionate gender equality advocate and a great supporter of AWAVA’s work,  finished her role on 12 July and will be sorely missed.

Around the nation

• The Royal Commission has announced that it will be releasing ‘Issues Papers‘ on a range of topics that are relevant to its work. Currently released are its first Issues Paper on the Working with Children Check and the second issues Paper Towards Healing 
• In this article, Mia Freedman notes that rape cultures and misogyny continue to thrive in popular music (note: *trigger warning*)
• According to Women’s Health East, “Women with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault in the east are going without specific support because their numbers are unknown…police have begun recording the number of assaults specific to women with disabilities but no figures are yet available”
• “A sexual assault expert who consulted the AFL on its Respect & Responsibility policy has lambasted the league for allowing Stephen Milne to resume playing while charged with rape, saying any player on such a charge should be stood down until the case is resolved”
• In this poignant article on the “Dark undercurrents of teenage girls’ selfies“, 11 year old Olympia Nelson urges us that “as feminists we correctly blame patriarchy because boys are securely at the top of the status game”

Around the world

• In this article, the author asks us to remember that “language matters” and  that we need to reframe “the conversation around domestic and sexual abuse to stop blaming victims”
• Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter believes “the most pervasive and unaddressed human rights violation” in the world is violence against women and girls, persisting as it does in most countries globally
• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka from South Africa as the new Executive Director of UN Women, the organization leading UN’s work on advancing gender equality and women’s rights
• The New York Times reports that an Afghan Court has reversed convictions in a case involving the torture of a young girl. The decision threatens to “reverse the strides made by women”  in Afghanistan
• Dr Meredith Nash argues that  “in spite of its (very effective) emotive appeal to female consumers to challenge beauty norms”, Dove’s “real beauty” advertisements  do not seek “to create awareness of the fact that body image and rising rates of eating disorders throughout the West are social issues that are intimately linked with the beauty industry”

Publications and Resources

• A new research paper from the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearing House has been released on ‘Reading Statistics: A Guide For Professionals Working With Domestic And Family Violence‘ 

Get Involved!

• The NSW Government recently released a series of documents relating to the NSW Domestic and family violence framework (reforms) for public consultation.  Response is by survey and is due 23 July 2013
• Make a submission on the Abortion Law reform proposed in Tasmania to decriminalise abortion here
• Nominations are now open for the 2013 Anti-Slavery Australia Freedom Awards. The Awards will recognise outstanding work and contributions to initiatives against slavery, slavery-like practices, including forced labour and forced marriage, and human trafficking. More details here 

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only

This week, AWAVA have been following up on the joint National Women’s Alliances Campaign ‘Priorities for Women‘. As part of AWAVA’s ‘Priorities for Women’ activities, we sent letters to all major parties asking them about their policies for addressing violence against women and girls; their views of the challenges; their commitment to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their funding commitments. Please follow the link to read party responses.

Around the nation

• The Women’s Law Centre of WA and Relationships Australia embarked on a joint venture to establish a centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of domestic and sexual violence

• RSPCA NSW continued to kick goals with its Safe Beds for Pets program that was established (in 2010) to provide temporary housing for pets of people seeking refuge from domestic violence and to address the link between animal and human abuse and child protection

• In Ballarat, community leaders threw their weight behind the “It’s Up To Us” campaign from the Courier Mail to educate, inform and explore community opinions on domestic violence

• In Victoria, police will establish two family violence units in Wodonga and Wangaratta. Both units will have a dedicated sergeant and two officers to work with the victims of family violence.

• A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states that in the 6 month period from July to December 2012, more than 157,000 clients accessed specialist homelessness services and the “most common main reason given for seeking assistance was ‘domestic and family violence‘”.

Around the world

• In the US, Senator Claire McCaskill delivered a fiery but considered response to an alarming article in the Wall Street Journal falsely portraying feminsist analyses of sexual assault in the military as “histrionic” and “criminalising male sexuality”

• In Egypt, “human rights and women’s groups have condemned the “horrific levels” of sexual violence against women in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, with reports of 101 sex attacks amid the latest wave of protest”

• Lakshmi Puri,  Acting Head of UN Women and Assistant Secretary-General, writes that  the struggle to end violence against women and girls requires “strong efforts by civil society organizations and the global women’s movement to remind both national governments and international organizations that words are not enough, that a few actions are not enough, that we must aim high and keep on moving forward”.

• Violence against women: a global health problem of epidemic proportions – The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reported that more than one third of all women are affected by physical or sexual violence.

• Social media giant Facebook has announced that “it will no longer allow ads to appear on pages with sexual or violent content“. Advocacy campaign, Women Action and the Media report that “this new policy will protect advertisers, but do nothing for users“.

Publications and Resources

• AWAVA member organisation, The Association of Women Educators (AWE) have published a resource for teachers on sexuality education called “Everyone is Special”
  

• Legal Aid NSW have published a resource for people experiencing domestic and family violence

• In the UK, The Crown Prosecution Service has published “findings from a four-month research project on domestic violence cases where the victim refused to engage or withdrew from the criminal justice process. The research aimed to identify further information as to why victims refuse to engage with the prosecution process; current measures taken to try to involve victims in this process and address their safety; the most effective way to ensure a successful conviction; and further steps that could be taken to improve conviction outcomes and victim safety”

Get Involved!

• UN Women Experts Roster– Please follow the link to register as an expert on gender issues and to register your interest in collaborating with UN women by taking part in evaluation assignments and thus contributing to “accountability and learning on UN Women’s mandate for gender equality and women’s empowerment”

**Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of AWAVA and are included as items of interest only