Women and children across the world, live in precarious situations. How do we comprehend this global picture and find ways to take action on the issue of violence against women here, now and internationally, particularly as every day we see harrowing images of violence and devastation in the war zones of Gaza and Ukraine. How do we stand with women, and children near and far?

In Australia, one woman is killed every 4 days by a current partner or former intimate partner. Reports to police of gender-based violence continue at a rate of one call every 2 minutes, and we are unable to quantify the number of unreported incidents. Statistics from the ABS 2021-22 Personal safety survey show that an estimated 8% of women who experienced sexual assault contacted the police but the majority (92%) of women who experienced sexual assault did not report the incident (ABS) . Sexual assault is only one form of gender-based violence that exists, this violence exists across a continuum including coercive control, verbal, psychological, emotional, financial and physical abuse and can take place at home, at work, during recreation and out in public. 

Violence against women arises in the social context of gender inequality. While a complex problem the causes of this violence include gendered stereotyping, men’s control over women’s decision-making and independence, notions of masculinity that emphasize aggression, dominance and control and the broader condoning of this violence.

Themes of power and control arise in our social context. The problem of violence against women is connected to how our society organizes itself, the systems of power and oppression that are a legacy of colonisation and the result of men holding more power – that is living within a patriarchal society. This system that we live in leads to ‘power over’ or the oppression of groups such as women, gender-diverse folk, indigenous people, people with a disability, of colour and other marginalized groups. (The Equality Institute) In addition many of the groups of women listed here experience greater rates of violence as a consequence of these complex intersecting layers of discrimination and disadvantage. For example rates of gender-based violence are disproportionately higher for women living rurally. (AIFS)  Women with a disability, who already face additional barriers accessing basic services (WDV AIFS 2015; 2019) experience rates of violence approximately double that experienced by women without a disability. The same is true for First Nations women, who experience the ongoing impacts of colonisation, including intergenerational trauma, racism, geographical isolation and poverty (AIHW 2024) more keenly. 

Women’s Health Goulburn North East takes a community-wide approach towards change in the systems, attitudes, behaviours, social norms and broader culture that lead to gender-based violence. This means that we consider the cultural and policy environment that leads to violence being seen as a valid choice and the impact of violence at the individual level.

This global problem, amplified, horrifically, in times of war sees women and children’s lives held cheap every day.

Right now the population of Rafah, totaling 1.2 million, are being bombed and every escape route has been cut off. Of the 1.2million people trapped in Rafah 700,000 are women and girls (UN Women). This isn’t hyperbole, it is fact, verified by the UN. War does not impact all people equally.  

In Libya the fighting has slowed, but the population is caught between warring factions. Women and children, who have survived the war, are trying desperately to rebuild amongst the rubble and devastation.  

Conflict in Sudan has once more escalated displacing tens of thousands of civilians who are fleeing for their lives. Leaving their homes with little food, water, and shelter. This civilian population is primarily made up of women, children and older people. 

And in the Ukraine women and girls are impacted on so many levels from heightened trafficking and gender-based violence to the loss of crucial livelihoods and rising poverty levels. The large-scale destruction of infrastructure has left survivor services, healthcare and other critical forms of support out of reach for many. (UN Women) 

Why do these conflicts matter to us in Australia? What is our role? Particularly as women’s health service, with a commitment to ending violence against women and promoting equality between women, men and gender diverse people?

There are no easy answers to that question particularly when considering these international conflicts. What is clear, is that we cannot turn our gaze away. We must bear witness to this harrowing and gendered harm. We can, in big and small ways stand with the women in these war zones. We need to them to understand that we see them, the load they carry, the care that they continue to provide even while in harm’s way themselves – and that we too want to see an end to this war.

As an organization that considers gender inequality, we also understand that this limits men and boys in how they are socialised to express themselves under prescriptive definitions of masculinity.    When we valourise war and conflict and celebrate the militarisation of our men, we require them to sacrifice the vulnerable, emotional parts of themselves and we expect that they carry our aggressive and violent acts of war and conflict. We see men at war, and this is held up as an example of how men ‘should’ behave. (The Equality Institute)

These problems exist because of choices made by leaders in Australia and across the world (and I mean all leaders, no matter where they fall in the political spectrum). Our policy decisions matter, and where we as a nation choose to spend our money, focus our policies and spend our time, matters – the impact is global and gendered. 

We need to speak up, to ensure that our leaders put people first. That we stop spending our energy and money on war and destruction and we spend it on life and care. We value all lives, no matter whether here in Australia or in Libya, the occupied territories of Palestine or Sudan – anywhere. We must do all that we can to value life. 

The war in the occupied Palestinian territories is what led to the development of this piece of writing. It may feel like commenting on this war (or any international conflict) is beyond the remit of a regional women’s health service located in Goulburn Valley and north east Victoria but it is critical to see that the impact of this war is disproportionately carried by the women and children, that supporting and resourcing war is a choice made by leaders, disproportionately men, and that when we choose war, we choose great lasting harm, not care. 

In closing I would like to thank our sister-organisation Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health for providing some practical steps on how we can make a difference to those in the occupied Palestinian territories: 

• Amplifying the voices of Palestinians. You can support their coverage by reposting their original social media content and subscribing to their broadcast channels.
• Calling on influential feminist organisations and other institutions to advocate for Palestine.
• Supporting the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN).
• Supporting organisations that are helping Palestinians resettle in Australia, such as Palestine Australia Relief and Action.
• Writing to or contacting your local MP.  
• Attending weekly protests and joining local action. This toolkit contains a list of local action groups and other ways you can support the movement.
• Learn about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Australia.

And thanks to Our Watch for their work on how we change the culture here in Australia and make the choices both personally and politically that lead to us actively valuing women and children’s lives. 

CEO of WHGNE,

Amanda Kelly