“Empowering Women – Empowering Humanity: Picture it” is the theme for International Women’s day in 2015 and is very appropriate for the world that we live in.
Society cannot progress unless women are treated respectfully. A woman gives birth to human beings yet can be treated so inhumanely, and violence against women is a worldwide problem.
The Honourable Quentin Bryce AD CVO Chair of a Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland recently said that violence against women was “the most serious human rights issue in the world”.
Sadly, figures on domestic violence in Australia are rising. Paul Linossier, CEO of anti-domestic violence organisation Our Watch, and Australian of the Year Rosie Batty have been reported in the media as stating that the figure of one woman a week dying at the hands of her partner or former partner has now risen to two. As at 18 February 2015, 13 women were allegedly killed by their husband or former partner.
I have seen first-hand the severe effect that domestic violence has on women and I have written previously about a client I saw who had experienced domestic violence. Women who were once bright and bubbly have presented to me with dark circles around their eyes, gloomy faces, dejected demeanours and an inability to speak. The sparkle that I once saw in their eyes is replaced with tears and emotional, mental and physical scars. Abusers seek to control their partners, which backfires as they thereby lose the benefits of a relationship where each partner can be independent, complimentary and contribute to each other’s growth.
The Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland delivered a report to the Premier of Queensland by 28 February 2015 with 140 recommendations. It is noteworthy that the Taskforce recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Australians, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the elderly, people with a disability, people in rural and remote communities, people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex, and children are all at significantly higher risk from the incidences and impacts of domestic and family violence.
However, though there was an Aboriginal person on the taskforce, there seems to be a critical absence of anyone from an ethnic background on the Taskforce, especially since almost half the Australian population was born overseas or has a parent born overseas. It’s helpful to the goal of ending violence against women that the Taskforce has highlighted the importance of cultural attitudes of our community, the role of services, the importance of an integrated response and the functions of our legal and justice systems and necessary legislative reform.
Rosie Batt’s message to stop blaming the victim is critical to the campaign to stop violence against women. It is a message that particularly applies to India. Recently Mukesh Singh, the driver of the bus in which a brutal gang-rape rape of a young girl took place in 2012 which attracted worldwide attention, said in an interview to British Broadcasting Corporation from jail that, “Women who go out at night have only themselves to blame in case they attract attention of male molesters," and in relation to the young girl who he raped and tragically died afterwards, "While being raped, she shouldn't have fought back. She should have just remained silent and allowed the rape."
I prepared a petition against the horrific gang-rape of that young girl. This petition was sent to the Indian Government through the Indian Consulate and one of the recommendations was the urgent need for a change in attitudes. It is appalling that prominent figures in Indian society such as politicians and religious figures have previously echoed the backward comments of Mukesh Singh. Such comments shift the focus away from the perpetrator and unfairly blame the innocent victim. And this is occurring in a country which is referred to as the ‘Motherland’ and where a Goddess is worshipped alongside a God by masses of Hindu people.
Imagine if the woman who died was your mother, sister or daughter. It’s time for human beings to realise that economic or social progress is not possible in Australia, India or across the world unless women are treated respectfully. Violence against women is an atrocity that must stop before it’s too late.
Share
