Fact sheet 5

In the lead up to the 2014 Victorian election, we call on all political parties to commit to programs that prevent men’s violence against women before it occurs. coordinated primary prevention policies and programs that address the underlying causes of violence against women will save lives.

Preventing violence against women and children

What happens now?Violence against women is still accepted by too many in our community

• Violenceagainstwomeniscausedbyunequaldistributionofpowerandresourcesbetweenwomenandmen,rigidgenderrolesandcommunityattitudesthatsupportviolence.

• Womeninallcultures,socioeconomicgroupsandareasacrossVictoriaareatriskfromviolence,andmostknowthemenwhoareviolenttowardsthem.

• Somewomenareparticularlyatrisk.Womenwithdisabilitiesare40percentmorelikelytoexperienceviolencethanotherwomen,manyatthehandsofthecare-giversonwhomtheydepend.

• ThemultiplelayersofdiscriminationthatAboriginalwomenexperienceonthebasisofraceandgenderactivelydiscouragethemfromaccessingmuchneededservicesforfearofchildprotectionintervention.

• Whilepreventionisdescribedas“thecore”toVictoria’s Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children– Everyone has a responsibility,mostofitsfundingcommitmentsareshort-terminitiativesandareduetofinishin2015.

What needs to be done?• Invest in a long-term strategy of proven programs

to prevent sexism, discrimination and violence, andpromoterespectfulrelationshipsinschools,sportingclubs,workplacesandthemedia.

• evaluate primarypreventionprogramstobuildtheevidence-baseonwhatworks.

• Invest in the Gender and Disability Workforce Development Program andspecificeducation programs for women with disabilitiesaboutthenatureofviolence.

• securely fund specialist services to support aboriginal and torres strait Islander women andchildrenthatareculturallysafeandAboriginalcommunitycontrolled.

• Require all candidates seeking office in the 2014 Victorian election to publicly condemn sexism and discrimination against women andcommittodoingalltheycantokeepVictorianwomenandchildrensafefromfamilyviolence.

Family violence in Victoria: why we need to act now

sources: 1.Galaxypoll,Herald Sun,29July2014;2.“Policeshockedbymassiveriseinfamilyviolence”,Herald Sun,25November2013;3.VictoriaPoliceCrimeStatistics,2012/2013;4.MagistratesCourtVictoria,2014;5.VictoriaPoliceCrimeStatistics,2011/2012;6.VicHealth,2004.Infographics©DVRCV2014

Formoreinformation,pleasecontact:

Virginia Geddes, DomesticViolenceResourceCentreVictoria|M:0432337859|T:0394869866|E:vgeddes@dvrcv.org.au|W:dvrcv.org.au

Rodney Vlais, NoToViolence&Men’sReferralService|M:0433040398|E:RodneyV@ntv.org.au|W:ntv.org.aumrs.org.au

Fiona Mccormack, DomesticViolenceVictoria(DVVic)|M:0409937800|T:0399210828|E:fionamccormack@dvvic.org.au|W:dvvic.org.au

annette Gillespie, Women’sDomesticViolenceCrisisService|M:0487970019|T:0399289611|E:annette.g@wdvcs.org.au|W:www.wdvcs.org.au