With International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women passing by last week, November 25, 16 Days of Activism for the cause will continue until December 10, running the event into Human Rights Day.

The 16 days is being acknowledged by organisations across the world to raise awareness about gender-based violence and call for an end to violence against women. 

The lockdowns that the world has endured during the last two years has raised safety concerns for women and children stuck at home in an abusive environment without reprieve. 

In March this year, sexual assault reports spiked by 61 per cent in NSW. While the unprecedented spike was temporary, a general increase was clear in the last 24 months to June this year, including 683 incidents reported against adult victims, and 342 reports of historic child sexual assault. 

In Coonamble, rates of domestic violence related assault have gone up 18.9 per cent in the last five years, followed by Bourke’s increase of 12.3 per cent. 

The effect was also confirmed on a worldwide scale, according to United Nations research. Findings suggested that 1 in 4 women felt less safe at home while existing conflict increased, and that 40 per cent of respondents said they felt less safe walking alone at night since the onset of Covid-19. 

The campaign is being supported by local police who will join the state-wide operation targeting perpetrators of domestic and family violence. 

Assistant Commissioner Leanna McCusker said that police will implement a number of strategies to disrupt and prevent recidivist offending and ensure the safety of victims.

“Our message is that gender-based violence is everyone’s business. There are no innocent bystanders when it comes to domestic and family violence. Community attitudes and changing behaviours will make the biggest different in reducing incidences of not only violence but discrimination towards women,” Commissioner McCusker said. 

During the operation, police will be on the ground engaging in Apprehended Domestic Violence Order compliance checks, proactive checks targeting known offenders and providing additional support to at-risk victims.

The campaign also coincides with the announcement of $20 million to be invested into boosting support for domestic violence victim-survivors which will be delivered to over 180 NSW specialist frontline services. 

Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Mark Speakman recognised the influence of Covid-19 creating greater demand. 

“Our frontline providers have been facing greater need for their life-saving services and support from women and children fleeing domestic abuse during and following lockdowns necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mr Speakman said. 

Experts are suggesting, however, that Covid-19 demonstrated gender-based violence goes beyond the household and may have influenced gender-based violence in the workplace too.

RMIT Professor Sara Charlesworth said vaccine mandates across various industries was a key cause of violent reactions to workers. 

“We know that during Covid, frontline staff in supermarkets copped extraordinary amounts of abuse, which, in many instances, given the large majority or women workers, was a form of gender-based violence. We also saw similar abuse towards nurses and care workers,” Professor Charlesworth said. 

During the remaining days leading up to 10 December, campaigns will run across the nation and across the globe in an effort to change the attitudes that lead to sometimes fatal consequences. 

The world’s iconic buildings and landmarks will be ‘oranged’ –  orange being the colour designated to ending violence against women - to recall the need for a violence-free future. 

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