TRIGGER WARNING: The below paragraph contains content pertaining to domestic violence that may be triggering for some readers.
Collecting a passport, dropping off groceries, spending time at home.
These were the final acts of just some of Aussie women killed this month at the hands of men known to them.
According to statistics cited by Our Watch, the nation’s leading organisation for the prevention of violence against women and children, one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner.
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Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly tells New Idea violence against women is a ‘national crisis’ in Australia.
”This violence, these deaths, are preventable,” Patty explains.
”The fear that women live with, the visibility of this national crisis, usually only makes it into public discussion when a woman is killed by a current or former partner.”
”Violence against women, including murder, is not inevitable. Everyone has the power to play a part in stopping the violence before it starts.”
Patty explains education is the way forward, asserting more needs to be done to break down rigid gender stereotypes and challenging attitudes that condone control over women and violence.
”Preventing violence involves everyone playing a role including our governments, workplaces, sporting clubs and individuals,” she says.
”And we need men as allies, for them to be courageous and call out their mates when they are disrespecting women or excusing or making light of violence. It’s so easy for silence to be interpreted as condoning the behaviour and attitudes.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb who told The Daily Telegraph ”it’s everyone’s responsibly” to end violence against women.
”No one is immune. It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter what socio-economic background, there is domestic violence. We need to make change now,” Webb said.
”NSW Police are calling on you to take a stand and report incidents you witness. It’s everyone’s responsibility. The days of what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors are over, that’s not acceptable. We have to come together.”
In New South Wales progress was made earlier this month when 592 arrests of domestic violence offenders were executed in a four-day crack down.
Dubbed ‘Operation Amarok’, 139 of those arrested were labelled by police as the ”most dangerous domestic violence offenders,” and 103 had outstanding warrants for violent offences.
Since its launch in January this year, the operation has led to a total of 1,884 people arrested following efforts in February, April, and July.
NSW Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley said there were 139,000 calls for help and more than 33,000 domestic-related assaults in the state every year.
”These figures show this is an epidemic,” Yasmin said. ”We know domestic and family violence is one of the most under-reported crime types.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000.
