Australia is facing an epidemic of gender-based violence.Together, we can demand change.
The Crisis
AUSTRALIA IS FACING A GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CRISIS
We’ve talked. We’ve raised awareness. We’ve demanded action.It hasn’t been enough.
For too long, women have been expected to protect themselves, as if male-perpetrated violence is our problem to solve.Meanwhile, the systems responsible for preventing violence, supporting victim-survivors and holding perpetrators accountable continue to fall short.This is not a problem women can solve alone.It requires meaningful action, accountability and systemic change.
The Idea
A MOVEMENT FOR A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
Inspired by Iceland’s historic Women’s Day Off, we’re asking:What happens when women stop?For one day, we stop, and make our contribution impossible to ignore.It’s time to recognise the enormous contribution women make to Australian society, and the power we hold when we stand together.
The Outcome
WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
Australia has spent decades investigating, reviewing and developing plans to address violence against women and children.We have the evidence. We have the recommendations. We have the plans.What we need now is action.When Women Stop is calling for a coordinated national response that closes the gaps women and children continue to fall through.
01.
BELIEVE. RECORD. RESPOND.
National standards, specialist training and accountability for police and first responders.
Every report of family, domestic or sexual violence should be taken seriously, formally recorded, appropriately risk-assessed and responded to.Police and other relevant first responders need consistent specialist training in family and domestic violence, sexual violence, coercive control, trauma-informed responses and identifying escalating risk.
02.
ONE COUNTRY. ONE PICTURE.
A nationally connected system for family and domestic violence information and risk.
State and territory borders should not create dangerous information gaps.Police, relevant agencies and courts need timely access to information that helps identify protection orders, breaches, repeat offending, patterns of behaviour and escalating risk.
03.
PROTECTION ORDERS MUST PROTECT.
Consistent standards for protection orders and their enforcement.
A protection order means very little if breaches, particularly repeated breaches, are not taken seriously.We want strong and consistent national minimum standards for risk assessment, monitoring, enforcement and responses to breaches, with repeated or escalating behaviour recognised as a warning sign of increasing risk.
04.
ONE STANDARD OF JUSTICE.
Greater consistency in how Australia responds to family, domestic and sexual violence.
A victim-survivor’s access to justice, protection and funded support should not depend on their postcode.We want greater national consistency across laws, prosecution, judicial practice, bail, sentencing and access to specialist services.
05.
CONNECT THE SYSTEMS.
Police, courts, family law, child protection and corrections need to work together.
Victim-survivors should not have to repeatedly re-establish their history of violence every time they encounter a different part of the system.Critical risk information, patterns of offending, breaches and escalating warning signs need to follow the person using violence through the systems responsible for protecting women and children.
06.
STOP VIOLENCE BEFORE IT STARTS.
Prevention and early intervention need to be treated as seriously as crisis response.
We need sustained investment in prevention, respectful relationships education, early intervention, perpetrator accountability and evidence-based programs that address the attitudes, behaviours and broader drivers that contribute to violence against women and children.
07.
A SAFE WAY OUT.
Nobody should have to remain with a violent person because they cannot afford to leave or have nowhere safe to go.
Frontline and specialist family violence services need sustainable funding so women and children escaping violence can access safe housing, financial assistance, legal support, trauma-informed services and the practical support required to leave safely and rebuild their lives.
08.
ACCOUNTABILITY.
We do not want another inquiry, roundtable or report whose recommendations sit on a shelf.We want federal, state and territory governments to agree to a coordinated national reform program with clear responsibilities, measurable targets, defined timeframes, transparent public reporting and independent accountability.
CLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES. MEASURABLE TARGETS. DEFINED TIMEFRAMES. TRANSPARENT REPORTING. INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTABILITY.
Australia already has plans, frameworks, systems and recommendations.The problem is that they remain fragmented, inconsistent or fail to deliver the outcomes women and children need.
WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
NOW CHANGE IT.
STAND WITH US
However you take part, you have a place in this movement.
FOLLOW us. Share the message. Grow the movement.TALK about it. At home, at work, everywhere.INVITE your friends, family and community to stand with us.CONNECT us with your workplace, organisation or community.VOLUNTEER your time, your skills, your ideas.PARTICIPATE when the day comes, however you can.
Stand with us. Be counted.
EVERY VOICE ADDS WEIGHT.
EVERY PERSON ADDS POWER.
GET IN TOUCH
Have a question, an idea, a connection or something you’d like to share?We’d love to hear from you.
Email us at [email protected]