Urgent need to address the abuse of Australian women

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Friday 25 November.

With a history of assisting many people experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia strongly endorses the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

‘One in six women aged 18 or over has experienced physical or sexual abuse before the age of 15, however, the true prevalence of physical and sexual violence against women is likely to be higher as we know that many incidents go unreported,’ National President Ms Claire Victory said.

‘The home should be a safe place but one in four Australian women has experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15 and the most common location where these incidents occur is in the home.

‘Indigenous women are up to 33 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of family violence than non-Indigenous women.

‘This is deeply distressing for the women affected and harmful long-term for the children who witness these acts.

‘Indeed, 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.

‘Around Australia our members assist women experiencing or at risk of domestic and family violence. They do this by providing emergency relief, crisis accommodation and help with the basics such as clothing, finance and furniture.

‘Attempting to leave a relationship is a time of heightened risk of violence and often of financial hardship.

‘The Society is dedicated to assisting women in these situations as well as advocating for policies that can help reduce unacceptable levels of violence.

‘The Society welcomes the release of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and the development of a stand-alone National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women and their Children.

‘In her statement to the House this week The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services called the National Plan a blueprint for a whole-of-society approach to end violence against women and children within a generation.

‘We commend the Government’s commitment to end violence against women and the Minister’s acknowledgement that it is everyone’s responsibility to address the gendered dimensions that drive family, domestic and sexual violence,’ Ms Victory said.