Page 456 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 16 February 2005
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Gender-based violence costs Australia billions of dollars every year. In the 2002-03 financial year domestic violence cost Australia $8.1 billion. Nearly half the cost was borne by the victims of violence, while many other groups in the community also bear the cost. But, as noted by the World Health Organisation in 2002 in its world report on violence and health:
Violence is not an intractable social problem or an inevitable part of the human condition. We can do much to address and prevent it. The global knowledge base is growing and much useful experience has already been gained which needs to be implemented.
Putting an end to gender-based violence requires the dedication and assistance of all members of the community. Violence against women and girls affects everyone in the community, including men and boys. Men’s lives are personally affected if their girlfriends, wives, daughters, mothers, grandmothers or sisters experience violence or the threat of violence. Harmful attitudes and beliefs in the community are a large part of the problem. Helping tackle these will help build a community that is safer for women and girls. The majority of men do not condone the use of physical or sexual violence against women and want to help reduce the violence. There are many ways that men in the community and business sectors can play a role to stop violence against women. Being a strong role model for boys and speaking out against violence are some ways.
Some perpetrators believe their friends condone their actions, so it is important for men to speak out if their friends, colleagues or mates brag about using physical force against a woman or forcing a woman to have sex. It is also important for men to challenge some attitudes and beliefs of other men in the community. Beliefs such as, “women provoke men by the way they dress and talk”, “men have uncontrollable sex drives”, “men aren’t responsible for their violent behaviours”, “men can’t help being violent when they drink”, “nice girls don’t get raped”, and “real men don’t take no for an answer” are completely unacceptable and should be spoken out against. White Ribbon Day, held on 25 November each year, is another way men can show their support for ending gender-based violence. I congratulate Mr Gentleman for his involvement in White Ribbon Day on 25 November just gone and showing the leadership that we need from men in stopping violence against women.
On 17 December 1999 the United Nations General Assembly adopted 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is also marked by the white ribbon campaign. Introduced by the Dominican Republic with the support of more than 60 governments, the resolution stemmed from a growing global movement to end an epidemic that devastates the lives of millions of women and girls and is a barrier to development in every nation. Although it has been five years since the UN General Assembly adopted 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, women’s groups have been commemorating 25 November as a day to end violence against women for many years.
The date was chosen to commemorate the lives of Dominican Republic political activists, the Mirabal sisters. The three sisters, Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa, and their husbands became involved in the activities against the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic. The Mirabal sisters were political activists and highly visible
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