By NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA
Many readers would have seen the disturbing image of actor Keira Knightley being kicked brutally by her ‘partner’ in a UK public service announcement designed to raise awareness about violence against women.
This video, criticised by some for its confrontational nature, is a depiction of what some women experience every day.
It made me want to recreate this ad for the Australian screen, perhaps featuring one of our best loved actors, to highlight this everyday reality for many Australian women.
Some may question whether we need to resort to such tactics in 21st century Australia, but the statistics about violence against women and children in our country are chilling.
Eighty nine Australian women were killed by their partners between 2008 and 2010. 1 in 3 women experience physical violence and almost 1 in 5 women experience sexual violence.
Women usually experience violence at the hands of men they know, often, in their own homes, and often, repeatedly, sometimes, over many years, if not a lifetime.
The biggest risk factor for becoming a victim of sexual assault, domestic or family violence is simply being a woman.
Fortunately, there is growing evidence that violence against women and children is preventable.
That is why the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have joined forces to create a new national foundation to tackle this issue.
Top Comments
Brett
What is it with Ex politicians and foundations, I really hope they donate all their time for "free"
Tash, in Australian politic past and present, you are still my hero. Sorry Kevin hasn't invite you to join hand with him.
I am in complete agreement on anti-violent against women and man.
It is sad in my case, where my ex has decided to cut my contact with my son(10) and daughter(9) and in thus doing so, is violently traumatizing my very being everyday. I live in Brisbane while my children are left living with their mother in Sydney. All I would like to to be able to talk to my children on the phone and in skype once a week.
Their mother decided to preach hatred against me to my son after I declined her request to take my two children on an oversea trip and since then failed to provide me the new address they moved to.
I have only but one option left and that is to take her to court.
As a parent, I believe you can fully understand what it is like to have your children completely taken away from you.
Task doesn't care about you mate. Domestic violence doesn't discriminate, but white Ribbon and others do.