Page 928 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 30 March 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
An issues paper from the Institute of Criminology entitled "Violence Prevention Today: Rape" by Patricia Weiser Easteal stated:
Prevention of rape (which is one form of violence against women) requires increased training and education for police both about sexual assault and its impact on the victim. A high proportion of callers in several phone-ins have reported negative experiences with law enforcement officers. These include not being believed, feeling judged, blamed or ridiculed, treated in an insensitive manner, and talked out of proceeding with charges. [A study by] Cabassi (1990) found that in Victoria police held a more stereotypical view of rape victims ... and that their response to victims is still orientated around what they consider to be indicators of valid rape: prompt reporting by the victim, resisting and emotional distress. Interviews with police confirm their adherence to the myths: that women contribute to their own victimisation and that violence is a natural part of masculinity.
These myths must be challenged, and I give credit to the ACT police, who have already introduced some training for recruits and senior officers with the Domestic Violence Crisis Service to give them a better understanding of the issues involved in domestic violence. Hopefully, their attitudes to rape are more enlightened than those of their Victorian counterparts. I am sure that they are.
This brings me to the second objective, that of changing Australia's attitude to violence in general - a move which I wholeheartedly endorse. As the strategy points out, major behavioural changes have taken place in the past few years on the issues of drinking and driving and of smoking in public places. At the beginning of these education campaigns there was scepticism that Australian attitudes to personal rights to jeopardise one's own health could be changed. John Stuart Mill might have preached the right of people to free will, but in an urban society that must be tempered with a policy of harm minimisation for others. This applies to passive smoking, drink-driving and violence against any particular group - in this case, women.
I do have one concern in this regard which I have stated previously. Drinking and driving, and smoking in public places, are combinations of certain behaviours which are unacceptable. Domestic violence, on the other hand, is not a combination of two behaviours which by themselves are not problematic. People can smoke and exercise their free will to do so, but legislation ensures that they do not affect the amenity of others. Violence is not acceptable, whether combined with personal relationships or not.
The second objective also discusses gun laws, citing quite correctly that the "mere presence of a gun in a home often acts as a constant threat to a woman". Most gun owners are men, and guns are perceived as a male possession inextricably linked with violence, putting many women in an inferior and frightening position, even if no threat has been made. Sensible national approaches to gun control and ownership would be part of changing societal attitudes to violence, and again the ACT is to be congratulated on introducing stringent gun ownership laws.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .