Why the AWU must back White Ribbon Day November 25 - The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
03 February 2009
Speech by Kevin Maher, immediate past-secretary, AWU Newcastle to the 2009 AWU National Conference.
In Australia the White Ribbon Foundationaims to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture change around the issue.
White Ribbon Day was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of 14 women in a university in Montreal.
In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared November 25 the day and the White Ribbon has become the symbol for the day.
On White Ribbon Day 2008 hundreds of thousands of White Ribbons were worn by men and women across the country.
The campaign continues to go from strength to strength and now boasts over 230 White Ribbon Ambassadors Australia wide. (I am proud to be one of them).
Some of the prominent White Ribbon Ambassadors are:-
-
Sir William Deane, former Governor General
-
The Hon. Bob Hawke
-
John Butler from the John Butler Trio
-
Troy Cassar-Daly, singer
-
David Koch, Presenter 7 Network
-
Andrew O'Keefe, Presenter 7 Network and Chairman of the White Ribbon Foundation
-
Pete Murray, singer/musician
-
Warren Mundine former National President ALP
Over 90 State and Federal Politicians from all the spectrum of Politics including;
-
The Prime Minister the Hon. Kevin Rudd M.P.
-
Senator Joe Ludwig, Minister for Human Services and Manager of Govt. Business in the Senate
Prominent Sportsmen such as:
-
Wayne Bennett,
-
NRL Super Coach John Cartwright,NRL Coach Gold Coast Titans
-
Dennis Lillee Australian Cricket legend
-
Michael Long, AFL
-
Michael Voss, AFL
-
Kostya Tsuyu, former World Champion Boxer
-
Gavin Wanganeen, AFL
-
David Wirrpanda, AFL
Our good friends in the Maritime Union of Australia have over 30 of their Officers as White Ribbon Ambassadors including Paddy Crumlin their National Secretary.
Our colleague Rod Currie from the AWU National Office is also an Ambassador.
The role of a White Ribbon Ambassador is simple; we spread the message to switch as many men as possible onto doing whatever they can to eliminate violence against women.
I became involved in White Ribbon about 4 years ago and assist in organising an annual function in Newcastle on White Ribbon Day.
I am driven to do whatever I can to help eliminate violence against women.
As a child through to a young adult, I witnessed my mother's brutal treatment at the hands of my father.
My earliest memories go back to the time when I started school in the late 1950's. Some of those memories are very pleasant, unfortunately some of the most vivid memories are those of my father beating my mother and on occasions this resulted in my mum being covered in blood.
From an early age my brother, sister and I recognised the warning signs that meant my mother was more than likely going to "cop it" again. (that's what we called it)
When mum copped it, it took the form of a single backhander with verbal abuse right through to closed fist punching and kicking with verbal abuse.
Alcohol was the trigger for our father's violence towards mum and the same scene would be played out every fortnight on pay day with my mother copping it again.
My father always got violent at Christmas whether it was at home or a family gathering.
At the family gatherings I can only recall one male family member who would strongly disapprove of my father's assaults on mum.
I often wonder if more family members had been prepared to take a stand against my father, particularly my mother's brothers and challenge his behaviour would that have changed matters.
My mother never complained about the violence being used against her, in fact she was always very protective of my father and made excuses for him, but, mum was never a happy woman, she really never had much to be happy about.
Mum never drank alcohol but she smoked very heavily and relied on Bex powders to get her through the day.
The last 10 years of mum's life saw her in poor health and at the young age of 49 her illnesses got the better of her and she passed away in 1983. She left behind 4 adult children and 4 school age children.
I blame my father entirely for my mother's death as if he had put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger.
There was no support for my mum and obviously nothing compelling my father to change his behaviour, if society and people cared maybe things could have been different.
I believe men have a responsibility to love and protect their wives, partners, and children. Men should have absolutely no tolerance for other men who rain violence down on women.
I call on you all here today to step up and speak out and even act to stop violence against women.
These days there are many avenues to stop domestic violence and men have to speak out and if there is a massive roar of anger by decent men condemning violence against women maybe these bullies and cowards may be shamed into trying to change.
Anywhere from 40-57% of women will experience physical or sexual violence by a man at some point in their lives.
In the last year between 5 and 10% of Australian women experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence by a man.
The results of the 2 most recent surveys are as follows.
The surveys are from the Australian Institute of Criminology 2004 and the ABS in 2006.
In the last twelve months:
- One in 20 women were the victims of violence
- 126,000 women experienced sexual violence
Violence during a Lifetime:
- Nearly 40% of Australian women have experienced one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 15.
I have three daughters and a niece and four granddaughters, these stats tell me that 3 or 4 of these beautiful young ladies are going to suffer at least one physical or sexual assault in their lives. NOT IF I CAN HELP IT!!!
As a man, a husband, a father and a grandfather this scares me.
Firstly we have to acknowledge the following truths.
1. Violence against women is a men's issue. It is men's wives, mothers, sisters and daughters that make it our issue. It's a men's issue because a minority of men treat women and girls with violence and contempt and it is up to us the majority to work towards stopping it.
2. There is something we can do to stop violence against women. Men have it in their power to change society and make domestic violence totally unacceptable. Join the White Ribbon Campaign.
3. Many women cannot leave an abusive Relationship for many and varied reasons. This does not mean that those women deserve it, to the contrary these women need more support from good men to change their lives.
4. No woman deserves to be beaten. The abuser chooses to use violence in a situation. Many abused women try to do everything they can to please their partner and avoid violence.
5. Violence against women does not only occur in specific groups. Violence against women occurs across all aspects of our society regardless of race, religion, level of education, occupation, community position or cultural background.
6. Violent men in the main are not mentally ill or psychopaths. Clinical studies show that the vast majority of violent men are not suffering any illness. They are very much in control and choose to use violence against their partners.
7. Drugs and alcohol are not excuses for violence against women. Studies have shown that 85% of men who drink or take drugs are not violent towards women. The vast majority of men who get drunk abhor violence against women, children.
8. Violence does not only happen to certain sort of woman. Women from all social economic and cultural backgrounds suffer domestic violence.
Secondly, become part of the White Ribbon Campaign get involved, wear a White Ribbon on November 25, wear a wrist band throughout November advertise that you are a man that opposes violence against women.
And thirdly, try to get your Organisation to be a supporter of the White Ribbon Foundation, just like the Body Shop, Channel 7, DHL, Lion Nathan, New Idea, The National Rugby League, Saatchi and Saatchi.
I will finish with a real chilling number of facts:
-
Domestic violence is becoming a growing cause of early death and disability of women.
-
A growing number of 18 to 26 year old women are becoming victims of domestic violence
-
Women with disabilities figure high in numbers of women experiencing domestic violence
-
Indigenous women are over represented as victims of violence by men.
-
Pregnant women are also targets of violence
As husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles brothers, sons, we cannot walk away from this human rights issue.
All electoral matter is authorised by Paul Howes, National Secretary