The Daily Telegraph launches domestic violence ‘Coward Attack’ campaign

It is one of the most destructive aspects of Australian life — violence in our homes. Here the Telegraph editors explain why the attitude and language must change towards these crimes.

We are changing the way we talk about one of the great scars on Australian society.

Violence in our homes.

It is one of the most – literally – destructive aspects of Australian life.

The number of women – because it is overwhelmingly women – who are bashed, tortured, choked, beaten and, all too often, killed – is a damning indictment of our nation.

And somehow, the descriptor of these heinous crimes, domestic violence, seems inadequate.

It fails to capture the horrific and ghastly nature of these crimes.

Adding to that concern is the sense of frustration we all feel about the cycle of this violence.

The Daily Telegraph’s front page on Friday.

No matter how much the media, cops, victim groups and politicians condemn, it seems to keep happening all too frequently.

Yet at some level, the assailants must believe they have a social licence to commit these crimes. Without generalising, there appears to be a lack of shame or accountability.

We want to sheet shame home to the perpetrators. Experts have told us changing the language will help.

What is needed is a major cultural change that sees Australia call out these hideous assailants and end their reign of terror behind closed doors.

The Daily Telegraph Editor Ben English.

Saturday and Sunday Telegraph Editor Anna Caldwell.

Because at their heart, attacks of this nature are cowardly.

So we want to rebadge these crimes from acts of domestic violence to coward attacks.

Of course this is not going to change attitudes and behaviour overnight. And in itself, it is not remotely a silver bullet for this crisis.

But maybe, just maybe, by changing the language used we can go some way to changing attitudes.

In all our reportage from now on, we will, where the law permits, refer to any alleged act of domestic violence as a coward attack.

The assailants are really, by definition, the smallest of men.

Our language should reflect that.

Daily Telegraph editor Ben English and Saturday and Sunday Telegraph editor Anna Caldwell