There has been an increasing discussion in the media regarding the appalling rates of domestic violence throughout Australia.
I was personally shocked to recently read that every week, on average, one Australian woman is killed by a current or former partner.
In NSW alone last year more than 27,000 (that’s right 27,000) domestic violent assaults were reported to police. That is an average of 74 assaults in NSW alone per day.
In the first 4 months of 2015, 34 innocent Australian women have died as a result of domestic violence.
As if these figures are not distressing enough, our collective attitudes on the issue are just as shocking.
40% of people believe that rape results from men not being able to control their need for sex.
One in five people believe that domestic violence can be excused if people get so angry they lose control.
Thankfully, it appears that the vast majority of Australians have had enough. We need to reflect on these appalling figures and attitudes, and we need to do something about it.
I suspect most Australians, like me, were not aware of these disgraceful figures.
Liz Burke, a journalist with news.com.au, recently wrote that the extent of men’s violence against women is one of Australia’s most shameful secrets. She is 100% correct.
White Ribbon is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women. The organisation began in Australia in 2003 and each year on November 25 observes the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women. The organisation’s vision is for “All women to live in safety free from all forms of men’s violence.”
Men’s violence against women is never acceptable. White Ribbon calls on all of us to stop men’s violence against women and make Australian communities safer for all women.
For more information you can visit http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
Stuart Freeman is an Executive Recruitment Consultant in the Insurance space, a blogger, an owner of a high end wine business, and a dad of 3 daughters. He can be contacted directly on stuart@kennedyreid.com.au