Use + Remix

Gender violence

Governments can do more to stop gender violence

With Australia declaring violence against women a national crisis and domestic violence at epidemic proportions globally, advocates call for urgent solutions.

With intimate partner violence again in the spotlight, experts are suggesting solutions including a focus on combating the influence of the online “Manosphere” in Australian schools. : Michael Joiner, 360info Free to use With intimate partner violence again in the spotlight, experts are suggesting solutions including a focus on combating the influence of the online “Manosphere” in Australian schools. : Michael Joiner, 360info Free to use

With Australia declaring violence against women a national crisis and domestic violence at epidemic proportions globally, advocates call for urgent solutions.

Men’s violence against women is at a crisis point.

In Australia, at least 28 women have been violently killed so far in 2024.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared violence against women a national crisis and, following a snap National Cabinet meeting on May 1, the Federal government committed almost AUD$1 billion over five years to tackling gender-based violence.

The government has also pledged to address the impact of rising online misogyny, including bans on deepfake pornography.

But survivor-advocates say the measures don’t go far enough.

Some ask why the government doesn’t simply increase funding to frontline support services. And as the cost of living crisis wears on, ensuring sufficient housing for victim-survivors fleeing abuse is also crucial.

Gender-based violence remains a widespread issue globally, too — and legal reforms too often have limited impact.

Domestic and intimate partner violence remains rife, despite being outlawed in at least 155 countries.

In Indonesia, landmark laws to address sexual violence haven’t kept up with the ongoing challenge of online sexual abuse, including image-based abuse.

In the Pacific, where two in three women and girls experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, legal reforms have had limited impact — partly because community, family and household-based rules may be more relevant in these women’s lives than state law.

In India, hundreds of acid attacks against women continue each year — in spite of laws intended to stamp the practice out.

In this special report, experts weigh in on the research-backed solutions needed to effectively tackle the global gender violence crisis.

 

Are you a journalist? Sign up for our wire service