domestic violence

Say NO to Violence against Women

Penny — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:53:20 -0600

25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

According to the UN,

At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime - with the abuser usually someone known to her. Violence against women and girls is a universal problem of pandemic proportions. Perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today, it devastates lives, fractures communities, and stalls development.

To get the message through that violence against women is not acceptable, UNIFEM wants at least one million people to join its Say NO to Violence against Women campaign by 25 November 2008.

The message that ending violence against women must be a top priority for governments everywhere is being heard. Recently, UNIFEM's Goodwill Ambassador, and spokesperson for the campaign, Nicole Kidman participated from Nashville, Tennessee, as the Government of Spain gave their full support at an event in Madrid's Presidential Palace on 4 June.

And the campaign continues to grow with Foreign Ministers and Prime Ministers from nine new countries, the European Commission, and others went joining in an event in Austrai on 23 June.

But UNIFEM needs your help.

Please add your name and send this on to a friend (or three) so that UNIFEM can reach its target of one million people by 25 November 2008.

We're all in this together

Penny — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:37:41 -0600

Next week the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (at Redfern Legal Centre) will be holding an information session about family and domestic violence for Indigenous women in the Redfern Community.

The Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (WDVCAS) provides help to women experiencing domestic violence. The scheme assists women with AVOs, safety, explaining the court process, after court support and help with the police.

‘We're all in this together' will include presenters from Mudgin-Gal, the Aboriginal Legal Service, Barnardos, Relationships Australia, Wirringa Baiya, as well as a victims compensation solicitor, representatives from the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme and Elsie's refuge.

It's being held at the Redfern Community Centre (29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern), on 26 June from 10.00am to 4.00 pm.

Free lunch and entertainment will also be provided.

Help for Women Escaping Domestic Violence

Penny Sharpe — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:32:58 -0600

Minister for Community Services Kevin Greene and Minister for Women Verity Firth today launched a new information kit for women and women's services to assist women and children escaping domestic violence.

The full media release is below:

New resource to help women escape domestic violence

State Plan Priority F7: Reduced rates of child abuse and neglect

State Plan Priority F4: Embedding the principle of prevention and early intervention into Government service delivery in NSW

NSW Minister for Community Services Kevin Greene was accompanied by NSW Minister for Women Verity Firth today for the state wide launch of a new information package to help women and children escape domestic violence.

Mr Greene said the Department of Community Services invested more than $68,000 in the resource developed by the NSW Women's Refuge Movement so that women all over the state could benefit from the information it provides.

"Domestic violence can occur anywhere in NSW - in any suburb, any class or any culture.

"This package provides practical information on how to get help including a fact sheet and contact phone numbers to help women escape domestic violence.

"It is vital women across the state know they can access expert advice and support from the Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63. It is toll free and available 24 hours, seven days a week."

Ms Firth encouraged women to be aware of all forms of domestic violence including physical violence, verbal, emotional and financial abuse.

"Sadly, domestic violence is a crime women can feel they have no choice but to endure because they don't know where to go for help and emergency accommodation.

"This information package provides a comprehensive list of how to recognise if you are experiencing abuse, where to get help if you are and what refuges can do to help you..

"Women's refuges offer a wide range of services to support those experiencing domestic violence including: crisis accommodation; legal, medical and counselling referrals; and advice regarding Centrelink payments, visa and immigration issues."

Mr Greene said women who had experienced domestic violence might be concerned about leaving the family home and taking children with them.

"Refuges offer services to assist women with children by offering family accommodation and support regarding parenting issues."

The domestic violence information package was developed by the NSW Women's Refuge Movement and funded by the NSW Department of Community Services.

For more information, visit www.womensrefuge.org.au

A day in the life of the Downing Local Court

Penny Sharpe — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:21:08 -0600

At the invitation of Redfern Legal Centre I spent a couple of hours today visiting the service, meeting the workers and sitting in on the AVO hearing in the Downing Centre Local Court.

While I know what is supposed to happen in the court this is just a sample of what I actually saw:

- many people milling around, some old hands, others in a complete state of bewilderment, not assisted by unfriendly and difficult to understand signage at the courts
- the Sisters of Charity trying to assist people through the maze
- the workers from Redfern Legal Centre calming down victims, briefing lawyers, liaising with the DVLO's and the prosecutors, working with interns and trying to put in place orders to protect women, young, old, English and non English speaking
- police DVLO's and the prosecutor trying to protect victims - even when the victim withdrew the application for an AVO
- the Magistrate requesting that a report be made to DOCS with concern for a small child who was present with a defendant in the courtroom.
- the Magistrate communicating very effectively to a defendant who did not speak English that his order was revoked
- the need for some sort of short term child minding facility while defendants and victims are in hearings

Last year the state government strengthened the laws around stalking to include the internet, text messaging and other technology. It was good to see these new definitions being communicated to defendants and the relief of victims when these orders were being read out.

By all accounts it was a typical day. A day that gave me better insight to reality of what is happening in our courts for victims of domestic violence.