International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

25/11/2024

Diversity

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Women’s rights activists have observed 25 November as a day against gender-based violence since 1981 and the date was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly on 7 February 2000.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality, released in 2024, stresses that violence against women is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia – with at least 2,369 women killed by intimate partners or other family members in Australia between 1989–90 and 2022–23. Concerningly, it reports that:

• One in 3 women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

• One in 5 women has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

• Women are 3 times more likely than men to experience violence by an intimate partner.

If you, or someone you know has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), the NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 656 463) or the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (1800 424 017). If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call 000.