Commemorating women who have been killed by their intimate partners …
In line with other states and territories across Australia, Tasmanian domestic violence services are collaborating to present the 2015 Candle Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday the 6th May at 5.30pm in Franklin Square, Hobart.
This is the 7th year the vigil will be held in Hobart and we are hoping to attract a larger audience to commemorate the women who have died as a consequence of domestic and family violence.
“Violence and abuse often continues long after the relationship has ended with women reporting to Domestic Violence Service in Tasmania with long lasting post traumatic stress disorders, mental health concerns and poverty”, explains Alina Thomas, Executive Officer of SHE.
In the first four months of 2015, 31 women in Australia have been killed as a result of physically violent attacks by men, who, in many cases, known to the women. These brutal and harsh words speak to the finality of these women’s lives, and yet, before they became national statistics, they were mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and partners, hoping for a long healthy life and the fulfilment of the same things that you and I want from life” stated Leanne Chisholm, a Health Worker at Hobart Women’s Health Centre.
“Furthermore, this vigil does not denounce the fact that men are also victims of domestic violence, in saying that, the statistics and national agenda speak to the fact that overwhelmingly women and children are the victims of male violence throughout Australia” explained Leanne.
A new report published by the Centre for Innovative Justice identifies the factors contributing to a higher level of risk of women experiencing family and domestic violence.
Key risks that we all need to be aware of (but may not necessarily be) are;
1. Pregnancy – pregnancy and when children are very young are a high risk time for women to have increased experiences of violence and abuse in relationships.
2. Problem-gambling – problem gambling is emerging as a significant contributor of violence against women.
3. Separation – at the time of leaving or ending a violence or abusive relationship is often the time when the violence escalates. Women often choose to stay in violent relationships if they can sense that the risk of leaving is worse than the risk of staying.
4. If men have a pattern of controlling behaviour and a sense of entitlement then this is a strong indicator of the risk of violence. Studies have been able to link this behaviour specifically with strangulation and threats to kill other members of the household.
The Family Violence Counselling and Support Service operates from 9am to midnight weekdays and 4pm to midnight weekends and public holidays. If you are concerned about your own safely or someone else’s please call 1800 608 122 or 000
Leanne Chisholm, a Health Worker at Hobart Women’s Health Centre
