UN - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. #NOEXCUSE

In 2023, a woman was intentionally killed by a partner or family member every 10 minutes. 1

Almost one in three women experience violence in their lifetime and one in four adolescent girls experience abuse from their partner. 1

Women and girls are at a greater risk of being killed at home—55 per cent of all female homicides were committed by intimate partners or family members in 2022, while only 12 per cent of all male homicides were perpetrated by family members. 2

'Technology facilitated violence' has significantly increased in recent years, with forms of this violence including video and image-based abuse, violent threats, unwanted images, or sexually explicit content.  The COVID-19 pandemic saw a corresponding increase in digital violence as work, schools etc. shifted to a more online format. 3

For many women, exposure to violence or abuse didn’t just start in their adult relationships. 

Compared to individuals who experienced no abuse in childhood, those who experienced one form of abuse were over twice as likely to experience physical assault in the past year and three times as likely to have experienced intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence since age 16 years, whilst individuals who experienced multiple types were three, six, and seven times more likely to experience physical assault, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, respectively. 4

There are many reasons why a person may remain in an abusive relationship, examples may include (but not limited to) children, disability, shame, isolation, safety fears, normalisation, doubting one’s independence, emotional tie to the abuser, fear of child custody, family pressure to remain in the relationship.   On average, it takes a person seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship before they leave for good. 5

No matter the circumstances, survivors deserve to be supported in their decision-making and empowered to reclaim control over their own lives. 6

Although counselling / therapy can provide an important element to assist in overcoming the impact of abuse and violence when required, if fits into a larger mesh of services and supports, focused on this issue.

The National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service (Home | 1800RESPECT) provide 24/7 support, guidance and information on services for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.

Further details on violence against women and the United Nation’s ‘International Day for the

Elimination of Violence against Women' can be found at: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | United Nations

The information in this post includes information derived from the following sources (all sourced on 25.11.2024):

1. United Nations - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | United Nations

2. United Nations - 16 days of Activism yearly theme (unwomen.org)

3. United Nations - FAQs: Trolling, stalking, doxing and other forms of violence against women in the digital age | UN Women – Headquarters

4. BioMed Central (BMC) - Cycles of violence in England and Wales: the contribution of childhood abuse to risk of violence revictimisation in adulthood | BMC Medicine | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

5. Relationships Australia (Queensland) - Why People Stay in Abusive Relationships | Relationships Australia QLD (raq.org.au)

6. National Domestic Violence Hotline - Why People Stay in an Abusive Relationship | The Hotline