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Thursday November 22 2007, Media Release

Community Action Against Domestic Violence

Aboriginal people throughout New South Wales are being urged to “speak out strong” against domestic violence.

The Chairperson of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, Ms Bev Manton says violence, particularly against women and children, cannot and should not be tolerated.

“This violence crisis can be historically linked to our dispossession and modern day problems of overcrowding, lack of education and job opportunities and the availability of legal and illegal drugs.

“We need to speak out and ‘own’ these problems as individuals, however, if we are ever going to make progress towards reducing their devastating impact on our communities.”

Ms Manton was speaking to mark White Ribbon Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which will be officially observed this Sunday, November 25.

Some White Ribbon Day events are being held around Sydney and NSW tomorrow (Friday).

“We are also supportive of the international campaign, 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women 2007, which begins with White Ribbon Day and ends on December 10 – World Human Rights Day,” Ms Manton said.

The NSW campaign, co-ordinated by the state government’s Violence Against Women Specialist Unit, includes a range of activities which are outlined on the VAW Unit website at http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/vaw/ll_vaw.nsf/pages/vaw_index

Ms Manton urged all Aboriginal people in NSW to use the 16 day campaign to focus on what they could do to assist in the fight against such abuse.

“Cultural reasons such as mistrust of police and the legal system, lack of knowledge about the law, legal rights and processes sometimes stops Aboriginal people from speaking out against violence,” she said.

“There are also personal, family and community factors including feelings of ‘shame’, which are often misplaced.

“But we need to stop providing excuses and making it easy for those who perpetrate violence.

“We need to make it clear that violence, in any form, cannot be tolerated.”

Further information: Paul Molloy 0419 690 926