Page 396 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 18 March 2014
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over their lives. The Women’s Centre for Health Matters has worked with local women from marginalised groups, including women experiencing domestic violence, to ensure that those resources developed through this project meet their targeted needs. These resources will soon be user-tested with the women from the AMC, with a group of women at the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, in a forum in conjunction with the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum and with an older women’s group.
I am pleased to advise the Assembly that the new leave provisions of 20 days of paid leave for the ACT government employees who experience domestic violence are due to come into effect this year. I anticipate that the introduction of the scheme will help empower victims to take control of their lives and reduce stigma. It is important to take violence and abuse out from behind closed doors.
The government’s prevention of violence against women and children strategy builds on our commitment to nurture a culture that respects the rights of women and children to live free from the fear and experience of violence. In December of last year, I presented the inaugural partners in prevention awards. This new award program is just one of the many ideas which grew out of the partners in prevention luncheon which was held in 2012. These awards provided us with an opportunity to acknowledge the individuals, groups and organisations that are contributing to creating a community that respects the rights of women to live free from the fear and experience of violence.
All of the initiatives and policies I have outlined go to the heart of the government’s vision and agenda for gender equity that is contained in the 2010-15 ACT women’s plan. A progress report on the women’s plan was released last year. This report provides evidence against the indicators of progress across economic, social and environmental areas outlined in the women’s plan. The report details the activities that are undertaken across government directorates that support safety, participation and equality for women and girls.
Last year I released A picture of women in the ACT 2013. This publication provides decision-makers in government, business and the community with important information on women in the ACT and informs the debate about gender disparities in the ACT. The availability of sex-disaggregated data is an important tool for building an understanding of the different needs of men and women. The data in this publication provides an enhanced picture of the ACT’s progress towards equality and participation for women and girls.
Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to speak about the importance of International Women’s Day and how we continue to celebrate its significance here in the ACT. International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March each year around the world. It is a day to recognise and celebrate women’s economic, political and social achievements.
On 6 March, I presented the inaugural ACT Women’s Awards. These awards recognise ACT women who have demonstrated courage and/or made an outstanding contribution to the lives of women and girls in the ACT. I had the honour to present awards to the ACT Woman of the Year, Ms Katrina Fanning, a proud Wiradjuri woman with many years experience in both the government and non-government
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