By Robyn Sedger
Violence towards women: whether this violence occurs in the home, workplace or in public spaces, remains a major issue in Australia today. Domestic, family and sexual violence is widespread across all cultures, ages and socio-economic groups in Australia and these forms of violence are experienced mostly by women.
Widespread feminist activism, directed against violence against women, occurred in many countries, including Australia, in the latter part of the 20th century. This activism not only raised awareness of issues related to violence against women and children but was broadly responsible for the development of many resources and services aimed at protecting women and children and reducing gender-based violence.
However, despite these campaigns, women and children in Australia in 2022 are still experiencing violence in many forms, in many arenas, and on a far too frequent basis. A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2019 showed that on average, one woman was killed every nine days between 2014 and 2016. First Nations women aged 15 and over, were 34 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence as non-Indigenous women.
The 2016 Personal Safety Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that since the age of 15:
- 1 in 3 Australian women had experienced physical violence.
- 1 in 4 Australian women had experienced violence by an intimate partner.
- 1 in 5 Australian women had experienced sexual violence.
- Australian women are most likely to experience physical and sexual violence in their home, at the hands of a male current or ex-partner.
- Of women who had children in their care when they experienced violence from an ex‑partner, 68 per cent reported that the children had seen or heard the violence.
The Australia Institute of Health and Welfare also reports that 87% of women have experienced at least one instance of verbal or physical street harassment in their lifetime. The Australian Human Rights Commission released a report in March 2020 stating that one in three Australian employees had experienced sexual harassment in their workplace between 2015 and 2020.
To say that these are worrying statistics is a massive understatement. As a society we need to do far more. Violence against women is described by the United Nations as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”
Some groups of women are more at risk of experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence than others. However, all forms of violence occur in all Australian communities and across all socio-economic groups. The underlying causes are complex, but there is general agreement that gender inequality is a key determinant of violence against women.
Attitudes which support and, in effect, promote, violence against women are also linked to broader views endorsing gender inequality. The less support society has for equal gender relations, the more likely they are to hold views that minimise and excuse violence towards women and blame the victims.
Widespread media coverage of violence towards women in 2021 created a resurgence of interest, and a demand to do more to combat these issues, from the Australian public. Awareness raising, creating political interest, and ground roots campaigning are all important strategies to be used to ensure that issues related to violence against women and children remain on the political agenda.
This year, as part of Shoalhaven International Women’s Day activities, Shoalhaven City Council has partnered with Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre, Shoalhaven International Women’s Day committee and Shoalhaven March 4 Justice network to organise a peaceful and safe march and rally on 4 March 2022. The community is invited to join this Reclaim the Night and March 4 Justice march and rally to advocate for changes in relation to violence against women.
The march will begin at Nowra showground on Friday 4th March, and participants are invited to meet at 5.30 pm for a 6 pm start, before weaving through the Nowra CBD to Jellybean Park where a rally will be held.
The Reclaim the Night movement has historically involved marches advocating for women to be able to move through public spaces safely and to stop violence against women in the home, educational places, workplace, and public spaces.
March 4 Justice (M4J) is a non-party political movement and the M4J network state that they are here for everyone who wants equality, justice, respect, and an end to gendered violence. Everyone is welcome to join in the march and rally on Friday 4 March. This will be an inclusive event and measures have been put in place to keep the community safe.
The march will present a united front against violence of all kinds and marchers will walk in peace and solidarity with the belief that everyone has the right to feel and to be safe. According to the organisers, this will be a silent march, in recognition and to advocate for those without a voice and to remember those whose voice has been silenced.
Participants are welcome to join both the march and rally or to simply join the rally at Jellybean Park, where they will be entertained by Tayah Larsen and hear various speakers on the issue of preventing violence against women.
Registrations for the march and rally are recommended and can be made directly through Eventbrite. For more information, please visit Council’s event page.
For further information on this and other Shoalhaven International Women’s Day events for March this year, go to the IWD Shoalhaven website.
Robyn Sedger is a member of the Shoalhaven International Women’s Day Committee.
If you or someone you know is affected by these issues, it is helpful to seek support from family and friends. Professional help is also available 24/7 from the services below. Lifeline 13 11 14 NSW Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 656 463 For confidential information, counselling and support on sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please call 000
Feature image: March4Justice, Nowra, 17th of March 2021. Photo supplied
What a great article! Fair, balanced, well written and powerful. Do you know how well written? The line 'Domestic, family and sexual violence is widespread across all cultures, ages and socio-economic groups in Australia and these forms of violence are experienced mostly by women.' I've never seen that before. Normally that can't be said because any comment on 'all cultures' on this subject has been implied as racist. We commonly completely ignore male dominated society from other cultures that has the same problems as a white society.
Hope everything went well.