Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
On this day each year communities across the world also begin 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, seeking to inspire action to end violence against women and girls around.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette Berry is calling on the Canberra community to get on board, unite in orange and take action to make our community safe for all.
“Gendered violence is an epidemic, and it takes a whole of community approach from the ground up to create long lasting change. Concerningly, we know that during the pandemic many women experienced violence from their partners for the first time.”
“The next 16 days provide an opportunity for the Canberra community to take a stand and share the message that violence against women in any form is not OK. I encourage Canberrans to start conversations about gender-based violence with your family and friends. Learn more about the facts and what you can do to help. Let’s make gender-based violence a thing of the past.”
This year for the 16 days, with support from sector and union advocates, Minister Berry wrote to Senator Michaelia Cash, Australian Government Minister for Industrial Relations, calling once again for 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave to be included in the National Employment Standards.
“Domestic and family violence is a workplace issue, it can happen to anyone. It impacts all aspects of society and needs to be publicly acknowledged rather than kept hidden.”
The ACT Government acknowledged this by introducing 20 days of paid leave for domestic and family violence purposes as a formal entitlement in ACT Government enterprise agreements.
To this end the Minister expresses support for the We Won’t Wait campaign run by Australian Unions as an ongoing call for action in this space.
The ACT Government is committed to taking action to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and is funding and implementing a range of important projects to tackle this critical issue.
In the 2021-22 Budget, the Government invested $46.5 million over four years through the Safer Families Levy and complementary initiatives to expand the ACT Government’s evidence-based approach to addressing domestic and family violence, including:
- Family-centred responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by family violence
- Reducing the risk of deaths from family violence
- Extending the Room4Change program to help prevent family violence
- Training for ACT Government workers to recognise and respond to domestic and family violence and support for any staff members impacted by domestic and family violence
- ACT Women’s Safety Grants to support innovative projects
- Establishment of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program working groups and steering committee to focus on prevention, response, law reform and workplace safety.
In the 2021-22 Budget the Government also allocated an additional $8.6 million over four years to expand homelessness services, including to support women and children escaping family violence
If you are experiencing domestic and family violence – you can reach out for help.
