November 2021 - Zonta Club of Perth Inc

Day 6: The Shadow Pandemic

Posted on November 30, 2021November 10, 2021 by Zonta Club of Perth Inc

UN Women advises that since the outbreak of COVID-19, all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified. This Shadow Pandemic is growing amidst the COVID-19 crisis and we need a global collective effort to stop it.

The social disruption caused by the pandemic has led to:

Security, health and money worries
Women living in isolation with abusers
Cramped living conditions
Movement restrictions

These can all be triggers for violence.

As COVID-19 cases continue to strain health services, essential services, such as domestic violence shelters and helplines, have reached capacity.

More needs to be done to prioritize addressing violence against women in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Everyone has a role to play.

UN Women is providing up-to-date information and supporting vital programmes to fight the Shadow Pandemic of violence against women during COVID-19.

Day 5: Purple benches honour victims of domestic homicide

Posted on November 29, 2021November 10, 2021 by Zonta Club of Perth Inc

Have you seen purple benches in your local suburb? Purple benches honour victims of domestic homicide and raise awareness of family and domestic violence.

Take a closer look, have a sit, and reflect on those women who have died at the hands of someone they lived with and trusted.

This bench was featured in Perth Now.

POSING for a photo on this symbolic purple bench was no empty gesture for Melville councillor Karen Wheatland.
Perched prominently on Canning Highway, the otherwise unremarkable piece of Applecross street furniture was installed by the City of Melville as part of the Purple Bench Project, which aims to honour victims of domestic homicide and raise awareness of family and domestic violence.
“Everyone’s got their own experience of domestic violence in some way, shape or form; I’m a survivor of it,” Cr Wheatland said.
“I’ve been active in this space for nearly 30 years.
“It’s an issue that affects every pocket of our community … and I think the biggest perpetrator of domestic violence in the past has been denial.”

Day 4: Support the Zonta House Refuge

Posted on November 28, 2021November 10, 2021 by Zonta Club of Perth Inc

Zonta House Refuge Association supports women at risk of or experiencing violence.

You can help the Refuge continue its essential work by donating:

Food for Christmas food hamper appeal

Gifts for its 12 Days of Christmas appeal

The Refuge works closely with other service agencies, volunteers and partners to provide crisis accommodation and outreach education through its Positive Pathway program.

In the last year, the Refuge has provided:

252 women and 2 children with accommodation
57 women with specialist study and employment case management
44 community awareness sessions facilitated to 4,509 people
101 education programs to 144 women over 420 attendances
204 women with specialist recovery support over 640 sessions
135 coaching sessions
177 women with comprehensive case management in the community
40 women with parenting support in prison
56 women with support to reintegrate into the community from the adult justice system.

Please support the Zonta House Refuge!

Day 3: Silent Domestic Violence Memorial March

Posted on November 27, 2021November 10, 2021 by Zonta Club of Perth Inc

Silent Domestic Violence Memorial March on Tuesday 7 December at 12pm

Organised by the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing, the 31^st Annual Silent Domestic Violence Memorial March will take place:

On: Tuesday 7 December 2021

At: Forrest Place, Perth

10am – 11am Stalls

11am – 12pm Rally

12pm – 1pm March

Attendees are encouraged to march with a sign – but no metal signs are permitted.

The event is sponsored by Lotterywest.

Day 2: Don’t be silent when you see violence

Posted on November 26, 2021November 10, 2021 by Zonta Club of Perth Inc

The WA State Government’s campaign for 2021 is themed around the tagline ‘Don’t be silent when you see violence’.

The campaign encourages bystanders to speak up and contribute to positive change towards the safety and respect of women in our community.

The key messages are:

Violence against anyone is unacceptable.

We all have a responsibility to help stop the violence.

Stopping violence against women means promoting equality and respectful relationships, violence-free spaces and safer communities.

Breaking the cycle of family and domestic violence starts with respect for women.

Everyone has a part to play by calling out disrespectful behaviour in all areas of life.

The statistics reflect the size of the problem:

65 per cent of assaults recorded in Western Australia last year were related to family and domestic violence (up 15 per cent on 2019).

Of the 22,257 victims, 73 per cent – or 16,262 victims – were female.

48 per cent (28 victims) of homicide and related offences (including murder, attempted murder and manslaughter) in Western Australia were related to family and domestic violence last year. Of this, 19 victims were female.

1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15.

There were 3,048 victims of sexual assault in Western Australia last year – a 10 per cent increase on 2019.

Of these, 86 per cent (or 2,615 victims) were female.

Check out the Don’t be Silent toolkit

DAY 1: Orange the World

Posted on November 25, 2021November 10, 2021 by Zonta Club of Perth Inc

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign is managed by UN Women. It is a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls around the world.

The UNiTE campaign has proclaimed the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls.

Orange Day calls upon activists, governments, and UN partners to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year, on 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), but every month.

On the 25th day of every month, Say NO–UNiTE mobilizes people worldwide to support the #OrangeDay initiative. It calls on people everywhere to wear the colour orange and take action to end violence against women and girls in every community, at home, in public spaces, in schools and workplaces, during conflict and in times of peace.