Domestic Violence NSW says that three women have been murdered owing to domestic and family violence since International Women’s Day, last Friday.
The total toll of domestic and family violence (DFV) related murders currently stands at 14 this year, as noted by Counting Dead Women Australia.
However, the true cost is likely much higher when we include men and the LGBTIQA+ community with the recent murder of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird.
In response to the recent tragedy, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, Delia Donovan, is calling on the public to help end this national crisis.
A wake-up call
‘These deaths in the wake of International Women’s Day are a wake-up call for Australia.
‘It’s abhorrent that we have lost so many lives in such a short amount of time. We should be celebrating and empowering women – not investigating their murders.’
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, Domestic Violence NSW and Rosie Batty AO, launched an online public pledge to end domestic and family violence. The pledge provides easy-to-understand information and resources for ways in which people can take action to help end domestic and family violence.
Delia Donovan’ says the recent and horrific spate of domestic and family violence-related murders can make people feel helpless in preventing domestic violence. ‘But we can all do something, every one of us – the simplest step is reading, signing and sharing the pledge.
Know how to offer support
‘The more people who learn how to see the signs of domestic and family violence, know how to offer support, know how to take safe action and how to call out unhelpful behaviours and attitudes, the more chance we have to stop the murders.’
Last year 64 women were murdered because of domestic and family violence in Australia and around 6,000 women were hospitalised. Domestic and family violence also contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 15 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor and is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children.
The Pledge to End Domestic and Family Violence can be found at www.change.org/dvendswithme.
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