Victims of domestic violence needed to be recognised in the same way Australia honours the sacrifice of soldiers in war, a former chief of army says.
David Morrison, speaking at the launch of a national framework to address violence against women and children, says Australia does not celebrate the victories of women.
On Wednesday - Remembrance Day - the hundreds of thousands who died in war over the past century would be recalled, he said.
"We will honour the courage of those men and women," the retired lieutenant-general, who made headlines with his 2013 video calling out sexist soldiers, told the audience.
"And yet we don't do that for the millions of women and children who throughout that century have been the victims of domestic violence."
They faced the stripping away of dignity and the imperilment of their safety in many of the same ways as soldiers, sailors and airmen and women, he said.
"It's just happened away from the lense of the war correspondent, behind the door, ignored by neighbours or friends, ignored by us as a society."
The framework, by Our Watch, ANROWS and VicHealth, entitled `Change the Story' finds gender inequality is the core of the problem.
Our Watch chair Natasha Stott Despoja said the framework is the first of its kind in the world.
"It is time to stop this slaughter in our suburbs," she said.
Social Services Minister Christian Porter recalled his story representing a victim when he was a crown prosecutor in Western Australia.
After she decided not to take the stand to give evidence, Mr Porter headed back to his office feeling "utterly despondent" about the situation.
"Very regrettably, men in Australia, too many and far too often, have a strangely permissive attitude towards violence," he said.
KEY ACTIONS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:
* Challenge condoning of violence against women
* Promote women's independence and decision-making in public life and relationships
* Foster positive personal identities and challenge gender stereotypes and roles
* Strengthen positive, equal and respectful relations between and among women and men, girls and boys
* Promote and normalise gender equality in public and private life
* Challenge the normalisation of violence as an expression of masculinity or male dominance
* Prevent exposure to violence and support those affected to reduce its consequences
* Address the intersections between social norms relating to alcohol and gender
* Reduce the backlash by engaging men and boys in gender equality, building relationship skills and social connections
* Promote broader social equality and address structural discrimination and disadvantage
(Source: Change the Story Framework)
National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.
AAP jr/glg Former chief of army David Morrison has implored Australians to remember domestic violence victims in the same way as the nation's war dead are honoured
