Ground-breaking National Framework on link between gender inequality and family violence launches via Marmalade, Melbourne

A ground-breaking National Framework on the link between gender inequality and family violence has launched via Marmalade, Melbourne.

Voiced by Australian actor Rhys Muldoon, the framework has been distributed to Australia’s change-makers, ranging from Malcolm Turnbull to NGO’s.

Australia’s first evidence-based framework for preventing violence against women and children was launched by Natasha Stott Despoja, chair of the violence-prevention organisation, Our Watch.

Called ‘Change the Story’, the framework was developed by Our Watch in partnership with VicHealth and ANROWS (Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety).

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The framework identifies the drivers and enablers of family violence against women – whether in public spaces or relationships. While there is no single ’cause’ of such violence, the evidence is clear that gender inequality sets the necessary social context.

Stott Despoja, interviewed on Sunrise, said no other country had such a framework to guide governments, the private sector, communities and other organisations in developing their policies to prevent violence against women and children.

Although violence against women has no single cause, Change the Story points to substantial evidence that higher levels of violence against women are significantly more likely to occur where gender inequality is ingrained in social, cultural and organisational structures and practices. What this framework makes clear is that gender inequality is the core of the problem and it is the heart of the solution.

Gender inequality exists everywhere, from the pink and blue toy store aisles to the gender pay gap, supporting and normalising the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that allow violence against women to occur.

Says Lisa Gumbleton, director of client service at Marmalade:”This is a seminal moment for us as an agency and for us as women. We are passionate about the change happening in this country to ensure that gender equality is high on Australia’s agenda. Violence against women is a national crisis and we can all make change happen whether it’s at work, at home, in our community, in the media or in our institutions. We want people to speak up and speak out for gender equality.”