White Ribbon Day: Saying NO to violence against women

For a developed country, Australia has a shocking number of cases of violence against women.  As an extension to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, people of Australia are observing 25^th November as the ‘White Ribbon Day.’

According to statistics, one in three women in Australia has experienced some sort of violence since the age of 15 (around 3.91 million) and one in five have been stalked. It is also believed that it is the leading cause of death, disability and ill-health amongst  women aged 15-44 in the country.

Supporting the cause, Ambassador and ACT chief police officer Rudi Lammers said, "Every week, one woman in Australia is killed by a current or former intimate partner. To any woman who has experienced violence at the hands of a man and who has been unable to come forward because you feel that you may be doubted, I say - 'I believe you – and so will my officers'," according to a report by Canberra Times.

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He added, "Ending violence against women and children involves the whole community in upholding and respecting the rights of women and children to live free from fear and experience of violence." Even the Prime Minister of the country, Tony Abbott, praised the involvement of the Australian military in supporting the cause, saying it sends a signal that strong men protect others and do not pardon domestic violence.

After announcing that the Australian government has decided to allocate $100million dollars to combat the issue, PM Abbott added, "Government has a role to play, that's why this Government is investing some $100 million in our Second Action Plan to combat violence against women."