The Stopping Family Violence team attended a morning tea for the 16 Days of Activism WA Campaign at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on Monday 26th November.
A number of community services were invited to attend and provide information and contacts on the services available in WA that work in the area of family and domestic violence.
Director General, Mark Foster opened the event and introduced the speakers.
Kedy Kristal from the Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services spoke about what domestic violence is and identified the types of abusive behaviours that have been closely linked to FDV over the last 10 years. These types of violence include pet abuse, technology facilitated abuse and gaslighting. Kedy provided some shocking statistics around the prevalence of DV in WA and discussed the negative impacts of domestic violence on children, indicating that children do not need to directly witness the violence to be impacted by its deleterious effects.
To read Kedy’s informative presentation, access it here.
After her presentation, Kedy invited Amber, a survivor of domestic violence to tell her emotive story of living with domestic violence and of life after her escape. Amber detailed the numerous incidents of horrific abuse that she and her children endured before escaping from the abuse and making a new life for themselves. Amber stated that even after escaping the physical abuse, she believed that her abuser still controlled her through her fear every day. For decades Amber has used her lived experience of domestic violence to help those suffering in this area. We would personally like to thank Amber for sharing her story with us and for the continued work she does with other survivors.
After the speakers, all attendees were invited to enjoy the lovely spread for morning tea and encouraged to network around the room to build contacts and gain information of the services available in WA.
Sunday 25th November was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which marked the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gendered Violence.
The 16 Days of Activism invites everyone to stand up and stop violence against women and girls by raising awareness, motivating others to get involved and advocate in the community by changing the conservation and challenging violence towards women.
If you would like to know what you can do to get involved you can visit the Department of Communities website here.
Or have a look at some of the events coming up in the next few days that you could attend and show your support.
Together we can stop violence against women.
