From November 25th, 2019 a there is an international focus on eliminating gender-based violence.
Refer to the UN Women website for more information.
In support of this campaign Free MBC is providing some helpful, yet disturbing, facts about gendered violence.
Prevalence:
- On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.
Bryant, W. & Bricknall, S. (2017). Homicide in Australia 2012-2014: National Homicide Monitoring Program report. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved from https://aic.gov.au/publications/sr/sr002
- 1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Personal Safety Survey 2016. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4906.0
- 1 in 4 women have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since the age of 15.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Personal Safety Survey 2016. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4906.0
- 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Personal Safety Survey 2016. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4906.0
- 85% of Australian women have been sexually harassed.
AHRC (2018). Everyone’s business: 4th national survey on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces. Retrieved from: https://whiteribbon.org/2Ea7Q6C
- 1 in 6 women have experienced stalking since the age of 15.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Personal Safety Survey 2016. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4906.0
- Studies indicate that women in rural, regional and remote areas are more likely to have experienced family violence than the women living in capital cities.
Mishara, G., Loxton, D., Anderson, A., Hockey, R., Powers, J., Brown, W. et al. (2014). Health and wellbeing of women aged 18-23 in 2013 and 1996: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Canberra: Department of Health.
Impact on Health
- Intimate partner violence is a leading contributor to illness, disability and premature death for women aged 18-44.
Ayre et al. (2016). Examination of the burden of disease of intimate partner violence against women in 2011. Sydney: ANROWS. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2W1LzfV
Children & Young People
- 1 in 6 women experienced abuse before the age of fifteen.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Personal Safety Survey 2016. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4906.0
- Children of mothers experiencing domestic violence have higher rates of social and emotional problems than other children.
Shin H., Rogers H. & Law V. (2015). Domestic violence in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Canberra: Department of Social Services.
- 1 in 4 young people think it’s pretty normal for guys to pressure girls into sex.
Website: Hall and Partners Open Mind. (2015). The Line campaign. Summary of Research Findings. Melbourne: Our Watch. Retrieved from: https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Media-Resources?c=TheLine
- 1 in 5 students have been sexually harassed in a university setting.
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2017). Change The Course: National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities. Sydney: AHRC. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2tSAdgV
- 1 in 3 women aged 18-24 have experienced sexual harassment.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Personal Safety, Australia, 2016 cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/2xqbuUn
- 1 in 3 young people don’t think controlling someone is a form of violence.
Hall and Partners Open Mind. (2015). The Line campaign. Summary of Research Findings. Melbourne: Our Watch. Retrieved from: https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Media-Resources?c=TheLine
- 1 in 4 young people don’t think it’s serious when guys insult or verbally harass girls in the street.
Hall and Partners Open Mind. (2015). The Line campaign. Summary of Research Findings. Melbourne: Our Watch. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/2Cd1O5c
- 1 in 3 young people presenting alone to homelessness services have experienced domestic violence.
Source: AIHW (2018). Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2016-17. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/2RHwr6h