The McGowan Government's 16 Days in WA to Stop Violence Against Women campaign for 2018 commences today.
The campaign again aims to raise awareness and educate Western Australians on what they can do or say to make a positive difference.
The statistics about violence against women continue to be stark:
- Every week in Australia, at least one woman is killed by a current or former partner;
- Western Australia has the second highest rate of reported physical and sexual violence perpetrated against women;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are nearly 11 times more likely to die due to assault than non-indigenous women;
- The number of sexual harassment complaints received by WA's Equal Opportunity Commission doubled in the past year; and
- The total annual cost of violence against women and their children in Western Australia was estimated to be $2.8 billion in 2015-16.
16 Days in WA runs from today (November 25) - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - and ends on December 10 (Human Rights Day). The campaign takes inspiration from the international campaign - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
As part of the campaign, 17 landmarks across the State will be lit in orange - the international colour for the 16 Days campaign - and government, business and community organisations will run events and online campaigns to promote awareness of issues surrounding violence against women.
Further information can be found online at http://www.communities.wa.gov.au/16DaysinWA
As noted by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
"Violence against anyone is unacceptable, however, it is a shocking fact that most women who are murdered are killed by someone they know, and most women who experience violence do so at the hands of a current or former partner.
"The McGowan Government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing family and domestic violence with $20 million in funding, legislative reform and the introduction of paid family and domestic violence leave for public servants.
"But government alone cannot solve this complex issue, everyone needs to play their part - government, business, community services and individuals.
"We all have a role to play in changing the conversation that allows violence against women to go unchallenged.
"It can be as simple as calling out aggressive or demeaning behaviour; understanding where to go to get support for someone experiencing violence; or starting a conversation about respect with the young people in your life.
"Together we can stop violence against women."
