International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence.

Globally, one in three women have experienced either physical or sexual abuse, most often perpetrated by someone she knows. Violence against women is a gross violation of human rights, profoundly impacting victims, their communities and society as a whole.

Family and domestic violence affects women’s ability to pursue economic security, to care for themselves and their families, and to lead active and positive lives.

The Morrison Government makes women’s safety a priority both in Australia and in our region.

On 9 August 2019, the Council of Australian Governments endorsed the Fourth Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, agreeing on five national priorities to reduce family, domestic and sexual violence.

In support of this Plan, the Government has committed $340 million, the single largest Commonwealth contribution to addressing family and domestic violence.

The Commonwealth support is aimed at stopping family and domestic violence before it starts, improving frontline services to keep women and children safe, and helping to provide safe places for people affected by domestic violence.

Today, Australian Governments have also announced our commitment to working together on the National Implementation Plan of the Fourth Action Plan, across all jurisdictions.

Ending gender-based violence is also a key pillar of Australia’s foreign policy and overseas aid program, especially in the Indo-Pacific. For example, through the $35 million Nabilan program in Timor-Leste, we have provided more than 32,000 services to survivors of violence including legal assistance and reform, medical examinations, counselling and crisis accommodation.

Australia is also contributing to the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, promoting change at a community level to prevent violence and deliver quality services to survivors. The Pacific Partnership builds on Australia’s long-term support to expand counselling, health and legal services, including funding to women’s crisis centres in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, PNG, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga.