Speaking out about domestic violence

The City of Sydney will host a series of workshops, information sessions and presentations to address domestic violence against women as part of the United Nation’s annual 16 Days of Activism campaign.

The online program includes domestic violence prevention training by the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre and a webinar for the service industry to increase understanding of domestic and family violence.

The domestic violence training session will help participants develop the skills to identify, respond safely and contribute to reducing domestic and family violence in the community.

The City will also host a free online talk by author Jess Hill who has been writing and researching domestic violence since 2014.

This talk coincides with the global 16 Days campaign for the elimination of gender-based violence and is open to anyone interested in increasing their understanding of domestic and family violence and learning about how to contribute to ending domestic and family violence.

The UN’s 2020 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign aims to address to growing number of cases of violence against women during global Covid-19 restrictions.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said no one should be afraid in their own home.

“Domestic violence is a serious issue which has been exacerbated by the impacts of Covid-19, including lockdowns and financial hardship.

“These initiatives will help our community understand the issue and where to get help if needed, while supporting local organisations on the frontline, like the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre.”

Jess Hill, author of See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse, said domestic violence can take many forms and it is important to know the signs that it is happening to you or someone you care about.

“All of us are experiencing a unique moment where a lot of our distractions have been cancelled. Most people aren’t working in offices. We are spending more time with family and less with friends so that isolation is intensifying,” Ms Hill said.

“We are just about to have a review of coercive control, which is the controlling, isolating and surveilling behaviour that makes up the vast majority of domestic violence cases.

“We get a sense of why it might be important to criminalise this type of behaviour and how it’s already being done in other countries, especially the UK.

“If you see behaviour from a friend’s partner that is degrading, controlling, surveilling, paranoid or morbidly jealous, these are dangerous red flags abuse is

happening.”

The program runs until Wednesday 2 December. To register visit our City What’s On pages.

https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/domestic-and-family-violence-responding-with-compassion

https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/free-author-talk-jess-hill

If you, or someone you know are affected by domestic, family or sexual violence support is available 24/7:

1800 RESPECT, 1800 737 732 – National Sexual Assault Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service, 24/7 Rape and Domestic Violence Service Australia/Rape Crisis NSW, 1800 424 017 – provide telephone and online crisis counselling for people who’ve experienced sexual assault, sexual violence, rape or domestic or family violence. NSW Domestic Violence Line, 1800 65 64 63 – for referral or information about NSW domestic violence (including accommodation and legal) support services.

For media inquiries or images, contact Belinda Wallis. Phone 0467 810 160 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Julia Lenton. Phone 0410 748 039 or email [email protected]