Minister progresses discussions on violence against women

Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis, today led discussions with key experts on reducing violence against women and their children in Alice Springs and across the Northern Territory.

During her three-day visit to the Northern Territory, Ms Ellis met with members of the Violence Against Women Advisory Group, local service providers, the NPY Women’s Council, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, and the Santa Teresa community to discuss the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children brings together the efforts of governments across the nation to make a real and sustained reduction in the levels of violence against women.

Ms Ellis said the Australian Government is committed to raising awareness of the National Plan in all communities across the country, and today’s meeting provided an ideal opportunity to speak directly with local service providers and organisations.

“I am pleased to announce that the Government will provide $120,000 for the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, to develop and deliver a series of events in regional and remote locations to promote the National Plan and discuss how organisations can take action at a local level,” Ms Ellis said.

“All forms of violence against women are unacceptable – in any community and in any culture – and it is everyone’s responsibility to reject and prevent violence.

In Australia, one in three women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15 and almost one in five has experienced sexual violence.

Indigenous women and girls are 35 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence related assaults than other women and girls.

Ms Ellis said that these horrific statistics were an important reminder to the community that action must be taken to protect women and their children from violence.

“That’s why it’s important to raise awareness of the National Plan and its message of working together to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.

“By helping communities understand the importance of the National Plan we hope to generate discussion and find local solutions to prevent violence occurring.

“The National Plan is underpinned by the belief that involving all governments and the wider community is necessary to reducing violence in the short and longer term.

“By working together and challenging the attitudes and behaviours that allow violence to occur, all Australian governments are saying a very loud ‘NO’ to violence,” Ms Ellis said.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022 is available at: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/women/progserv/violence/nationalplan/Documents/national_plan.pdf