Natasha Stott Despoja: Our Watch launches new campaign to tackle domestic violence in Australia

THE biggest risk factor for becoming a victim of sexual assault, domestic and family violence in Australia is being female, writes Natasha Stott Despoja.

THE biggest risk factor for becoming a victim of sexual assault, domestic and family violence in Australia is being female

Today is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which kicks off 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, including the globally successful campaign, Orange the World.

Today, Our Watch launches a campaign, with Australia’s four largest sporting codes, to show the world there is no excuse for violence against woman.

The influence of sporting figures is undeniable. But we all need to play a part in eliminating violence and promoting gender equality.

We are familiar with the statistics about violence against women.

In Australia, police are called to a domestic violence matter every two minutes or 657 times a day.

Women usually experience violence and abuse at the hands of men they know. Often in their own homes, often repeatedly, sometimes over many years, if not a lifetime.

Ninety five percent of all violence against men and women is perpetrated by men.

Women are three times more likely than men to be killed by their current or former partner.

This year, 67 women have been killed in Australia at the hands of their intimate or former partners.

We must stop this slaughter in our neighbourhoods.

The good news is violence against women is not an inevitable product of the human condition. It is preventable.

Although there is no single cause of violence against women, research shows that the main drivers of higher levels of such violence are attitudes and behaviours that:

DISRESPECT women

HAVE low support for gender equality

ADHERE to rigid gender roles

We know from the evidence that alcohol, drugs, unemployment and poverty are factors that can exacerbate violence, but they are not the cause.

Gender inequality is the core of the problem. And, gender equality is at the heart of the solution.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says that “disrespecting women does not always result in violence against women. But all violence against women begins with disrespecting women”.

Our Watch leads Australia’s work in preventing violence against women and children.

We are an independent organisation working across the whole community to build a movement that says enough. No more. Not on our watch.

To achieve this, we need to increase equality and respect where people live, work and play.

We are active in schools; workplaces; the media; social marketing, and in sporting organisations.

That’s why we are working with sporting codes.

From this work, we hope that the “new normal” will be an Australia where women live free from fear of violence.

We all have a role in creating this world.

Today, you can join our “no excuse for violence campaign”. Maybe start with a selfie with the message “no excuse for violence”, and share it on social media using the hashtags #noexcuse4violence #16days and #orangetheworld.

More importantly, everyday practise respectful, healthy and equal relationships.

Natasha Stott Despoja is chairwoman of Our Watch