Posted in News
Latest news & media on violence against women –
26 Oct 2016
Monday, 24th October 2016
News and media this fortnight looks at financial abuse as a form of domestic violence, criminal justice processes and their impact on victims, Wonder Woman as a UN ambassador and more.
Read more…
Australian
‘Women are being traumatised’: Rosie Batty call to end cross-examination by ‘abusers’
The Age, 25/10/16
“In no area of criminal law is a victim able to be cross-examined in court by the person accused of harming them. And yet in family law that is exactly what happens on a regular basis.”
Does CCTV footage help or hinder the reduction of violence against women?
The Conversation, 24/10/16
“The introduction of security footage in courtrooms as evidence is increasingly common. With the number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras rising, the likelihood of images deemed relevant for criminal proceedings being recorded also increases. However, while CCTV footage may arguably have assisted in achieving convictions in some high-profile cases, can it assist in the overall reduction of violence against women?”
Fresh details revealed about Victoria Police officers predatory behaviour towards women
The Courier, 24/10/16
“More than a third of all Victoria Police officers who appealed dismissals or demotions in the past two years were disciplined because of predatory behaviour towards women, including family violence victims, colleagues, and women who were vulnerable or in care.”
How ‘Disney dads’ are making life hell for their partners
Sydney Morning Herald, 23/10/16
“When Aaliyah* split up with her partner she suddenly had to contend with ‘Disney Dad’. While she was struggling to manage daily living expenses as a single parent on a low income, he was using his greater wealth to buy off their children with treats … [ANROWS funded report] found that financial abuse is part of a ‘fairly severe’ pattern of domestic violence…”
Queensland Opposition calls for more police resources to address domestic violence
ABC News, 23/10/16
“Queensland police need more resources to address domestic violence after figures revealed 3,750 breaches of DVOs in Queensland in July and August, the State Opposition says. That is on top of 22,850 violations of DVOs in the state during the 2015-16 financial year.”
Time we listened to a familiar voice to tackle domestic violence
news.com.au, 23/10/16
“There’s probably no voice in the Northern Territory as familiar as Charlie King’s. But there’s one place where King’s voice has struggled to be heard. For eight years he’s been lobbying politicians in Canberra to help fight a battle far bigger than any he’s seen on a football field.”
This wasn’t a murder-suicide. It was cold-blooded murder
The Daily Telegraph, 23/10/16
“The death of two children in a home in Davidson, along with both their parents and the family dog, is not a story of disability or of mental ill-health. It’s not the tale of a man driven to despair by society’s failure to help him. It is definitely not a story of euthanasia. It’s about an intelligent, capable, strong, healthy man murdering his wife and their two small children in cold blood, and unlawfully killing an animal along the way.”
Culture of victim blaming still the same, 40 years after Canberra Rape Crisis Centre began: CEO
The Canberra Times, 23/10/16
“Rape victims are still being blamed for their ordeals despite a seismic shift in the way authorities deal with sexual assault, the chief of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre has said.”
Domestic violence reaches epidemic levels in WA as more cry for help
Perth Now, 23/10/16
“More women are finding the courage to seek help after suffering domestic violence, claim experts as reported incidents to WA Police spiked around 53,500 in 2015-16.”
‘I was brainwashed’: Three women speak out on being trapped by financially abusive partner
The Age, 23/10/16
“Only in recent years has obstructing or denying access to money been recognised as a form of domestic violence, which Good Shepherd Microfinance, estimates has affected 2 million women in Australia. A woman can become trapped in a relationship when she doesn’t have the independent means to escape – and the abuse doesn’t let up.
New support for No More campaign
Sky News, 22/101/6
“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been urged to reignite a national campaign to reduce family violence in Indigenous communities.”
Elder abuse in South Australia ‘widespread’, state sets up new parliamentary committee
ABC News, 21/10/16
“Protecting vulnerable South Australians from elder abuse will be the key focus of a new joint select committee.”
International
Access to education can empower women, young girls around the world
The Daily Reveille, 24/10/16 (opinion piece by Anjana Nair)
“Education has always been my ticket to freedom. It comes with respect, income and power. If you can’t be the smartest person in the room, you can always strive to be the most educated. That is a power no one can take from you. This idea is one that drives hard-working, underprivileged, forgotten minority populations around the world to do whatever it takes to achieve higher levels of literacy.”
Despite protests, Wonder Woman named UN special ambassador
USA Today, 21/10/16
“For Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday, the character got a superhero-sized gift, and was named an ambassador to the United Nations. But it was a bumpy reception. Some deemed Wonder Woman too sexualized a figure for such a post, and an online petition, started by UN staffers protesting the decision, had collected 1,275 signatures by Friday afternoon.”
What ‘Too many men, too few women’ can lead to
The Wire, 21/10/16
“A new book edited by Ravinder Kaur examines the consequences of gender imbalances in India and China.”
UN Women office in Abu Dhabi will ‘empower women’
The National, UAE, 20/10/16
“The newly-launched UN Women liaison office in the capital, one of five worldwide, will focus on policy advocacy and advice to remove barriers to equal opportunities for women and girls in the region. Aiming to help write policy and ensure equality laws are implemented will be the focus of the office, which will begin operations next year.”
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