WEL notes that violence against women is at last being recognised. Violence in the home includes violence against the elderly as well as domestic violence and also the murder of young children, often following divorce or separation. Violence is occuring in rural communities as well as urban communities.
Violence in Aboriginal communities is at last being recognised as criminal and not part of any cultural tradition. CLICK here for a recent report on "Rights of indigenous women and children must come first" and for "I am Woman Hear me Roar".
CLICK here to read the excellent article by Anne Gunter, WEL Victoria Coordinator on Violence against Women, supporting the new Victorian Family Violence Bill. The Victorian Government has changed the law to remove provocation as an excuse for violence.
Latest news (2008): the Federal Government is moving to reduce violence against women. Read the statements by the Federal Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, about CEDAW, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the National Council Report on Violence and biographies of its Members. CLICK here to read the draft submission to the National Council on Violence by WEL Australia, in response to the Council's request for community input.
The Federal Budget 2006 allocated $2.1m, from January 1st 2007, over four years for Crisis Payment to victims of Domestic Violence. The Family Violence Prevention Legal Services have been expanded to 31 services.
WEL Victoria made a submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission in 2005 and is joining with other organisations to support the campaign for Family Violence Reform. WEL is particularly concerned that most women and children should not have to leave their homes. CLICK here for more information.
The Federation of Community Legal centres and other organisations have recently (May 2007) participated in consultations about some of the legislative recommendations. The next step is for the Department of Justice to approach Cabinet to draft a new Bill (hoped by September 2007) concerning intervention order matters.
Some money was allocated in the 2007 Victorian State budget for pilot counselling programs in the Magistrates Courts Family Violence division; also to legal aid to prevent intervention order applicants being cross-examined by unrepresented defendents; Safer Families Training Program for frontline agencies and to Community Legal Centres assisting intervention order applicants. However, the reform group believes the new Act will not be effective unless cultural change is addressed by implementation of the non-legislative recommendations.
A recent High Court decision will allow people who suffer psychological illness as a result of rape or other traumatic events, to sue for compensation years later.
WEL member Anne Gunter notes that the Victorian Office of Women's Policy has released a report entitled "Safe at Work? Women's Experience of Violence in the Workplace". The report points out the problems faced by many women at work. Employers should note that legal remedies will cost them far more than preventative measures which should be part of their normal work safety provisions.
WEL Victoria's "Freedom from Violence Action Groups" recommended measures to ensure the safety of women at work in several submissions to Victorian governments of the early nineties - up to 15 years ago!
Besides arrangements to prevent sexual harassment, we suggested that workplace safety officers should have a specific mandate to attend to particular ways women could be put at risk in the workplace by poor arrangements such as inadequate lighting of buildings [inside & out] for women working late at night. With far more casual work and the extension of the working day to virtually any hours in the 24 [e.g. for retail sales staff] the risks to many women are exacerbated, both at work and when they leave the workplace to travel home.
The fatal attack on real estate agent Lorelle Makin on 25/9/05 should act as a wake-up call. After two male police officers working alone on traffic duty were murdered earlier this year the Police Association is insisting that their members should not be expected to work alone. What about the rest of the workforce and the particular ways in which women become targets? While men are less likely to be raped, all workers should be able to feel safe from violence at work or going to or from it.
Workplace safety should not merely cover equipment and training to use it, but the whole configuration of the conditions under which employees are expected to work. Many women threatened with violence could or would not talk about it to their employers. As with sexual harassment, this is where an intermediary, such as a safety officer, should be available to hear their concerns.
Abuse of the elderly is discussed in Older Women Issues. CLICK "Abuse of the elderly "
CLICK on the following for more initiatives and details on violence against women:
Violence and Women - Updates December 2007
Violence against women Govt initiative
Domestic Violence Law Reform Campaign
GP role in fight against family violence
National Abuse Free Contact Campaign .