White Ribbon ambassadors speak out on violence against women
Monday 24 November 2008
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, have joined the growing list of prominent Australians who are White Ribbon ambassadors.
The White Ribbon Foundation of Australia aims to eliminate violence against women. White Ribbon ambassadors are prominent men from many fields who use their leadership skills and networks to raise awareness, including the importance of wearing a white ribbon tomorrow (November 25), the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
‘Violence against women is unacceptable in Australian society and I encourage all men to take a stand on this issue,’ Senator Evans said.
‘We are all role models with a voice, whether as fathers, brothers, uncles, community members or workmates and we can all make it clear that we will not condone the violence.
‘Within the broader Australian community and within Australia’s increasingly diverse population, we still have much to do to change attitudes and behaviour that condone domestic violence.’
Senator Evans said Australia’s humanitarian program offered specific protection to refugee women in particularly vulnerable situations.
‘The “woman at risk” program helps women who are in danger of victimisation and serious abuse because of their gender,’ Senator Evans said.
The minister said 13.7 per cent of the 13 014 refugee visas granted in 2007-08 were for the ‘woman at risk’ category, well ahead of the program’s 10.5 per cent target.
The Rudd Government also recently approved $553 000 in funding for a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) project in Syria to support Iraqi women and girls who are victims of sexual or gender-based violence. It includes funding for a safe house where victims will receive counselling, support and other assistance in the case of emergencies.
Mr Ferguson encouraged all men to wear a white ribbon tomorrow to show their personal opposition to violence against women.
‘We want an Australia in which everyone benefits from our diverse society and in which people work towards a socially progressive, fair and united country,’ Mr Ferguson said.
‘I commend those community leaders from Australia’s migrant and ethnic communities, under the leadership of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia, who have recognised and addressed problems of violence within our communities.
‘White Ribbon Day is an occasion to encourage all Australian men, especially from new and emerging communities, to take on the challenge.’
White Ribbon Foundation chairman Andrew O’Keefe welcomed Senator Evans and Mr Ferguson as ambassadors.
‘It's a campaign that reaches out to all men, of all backgrounds and all stations. And the personal commitment of Senator Evans and Mr Ferguson to working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities will be a very important contribution to strengthening the broad community of support we have in place,’ Mr O'Keefe said.
For more information about the White Ribbon Foundation of Australia and its aims, visit www.whiteribbonday.org.au
Media Contact: Sarah Gestier-Garstang (Mr Ferguson) 02 6277 4920 or 0432 283 020
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2008/lf08068.htm
Last update: 17 December 2008 at 10:22 AEST