16 Days Global Push – End Gender Violence Now

As the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begins, Tasmania is at the centre of national discussions on family and sexual violence prevention and accountability. This compendium of media releases captures the key voices—including Engender Equality, Jane Howlett MHA, Tabatha Badger MHA, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and No to Violence—as they champion new initiatives and debate the state government’s commitment to eliminating violence.

The urgent need for action on issues from liquor licensing reform to establishing a peak body and addressing digital violence against women is brought into focus.

Media release – Engender Equality, 26 November 2025

Calls for all sectors – Take action to stop digital violence against women

Tasmanian-based family violence organisation Engender Equality is calling on governments, technology companies, donors, and individuals to speak out, support victim-survivors, and end the exploitation and harm driven by profit and complacency in digital spaces.

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,

“We support the 16 Days of activism to end gender-based violence which begins on 25 November 2025, under the theme: Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”

“Men increasingly use digital violence to stalk and harass women and girls of all levels of society, especially those with public or online visibility.

“The impact for women facing intersecting forms of discrimination, including race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation is even worse. There are unique dynamics at play with this form of abuse, especially the scale and speed through which it can exacerbate and aggravate other forms of violence and abuse. These acts do not just happen online. They often lead to offline violence, such as coercion, physical abuse, and even femicide – killing of women and girls.” Thomas said.

“Change can happen when violence in manosphere spaces is no longer accepted and normalised, and perpetrators are not able to remain anonymous,” Thomas said.

“Change can happen when tech platforms and social networking sites ensure platform safety, remove harmful content, enforce codes of conduct, and publish transparent reports.

“Change can happen when governments pass and enforce laws that criminalise digital violence, protect personal information, and strengthen tech sector accountability.

“Change can happen when technology sector regulations are strengthened, and legal recognition of digital violence activated.”

Forms of digital abuse include:

• image-based abuse/non-consensual sharing of intimate images – often called revenge porn or leaked nudes.
• cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats. online harassment and sexual harassment.
• AI-generated deepfakes such as sexually explicit images, deepfake pornography, and digitally manipulated images, videos, or audio.
• hate speech and disinformation on social media platforms.
• doxxing – publishing private information.
• online stalking or surveillance/tracking to monitor someone’s activities.
• online grooming and sexual exploitation.
• catfishing and impersonation, and.
• misogynistic networks such as manosphere or incel forums.

Media release – Jane Howlett MHA, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, 25 November 2025

Alliance paves the way for improved action on family and sexual violence services

The peak body for family and sexual violence services in Tasmania now offers individual and organisational membership.

Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, Jane Howlett, launched the Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance’s new membership options in Hobart today.

“The Tasmanian Government’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027: Survivors at the Centre, included a commitment to establishing a dedicated peak body,” Howlett said.

“The Alliance, which was formed following consultation with the community sector, delivers on that commitment and streamlines engagement between the Government and stakeholders to support policy development and service design.

“Congratulations to the Alliance on delivering its new membership structure which provides options to join whether as a community ally, a practitioner working in the sector, contributing to research and evidence or importantly; a victim-survivor who can help shape and improve the services and systems designed to keep women and children safe.

“Victim-survivors who share their stories show great courage and their lived experience makes a difference in how we support Tasmanians.

“Our homes, families and communities should be free from family and sexual violence, which is why it is so important we have a strong, coordinated peak body to provide trusted advice to government.

“Our Government remains steadfast in creating a Tasmania that is free from violence, with a broad range of measures in place to prevent family and sexual violence, respond to and support victim-survivors, and hold perpetrators to account.”

The Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance is funded through the Survivors at the Centre Action Plan.

Media release – Jane Howlett MHA, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, 25 November 2025

Recognising community leadership in the elimination of violence against women

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the start of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence which runs from 25 November to 10 December.

While the focus of the next 16 days is gender violence internationally, it’s also a time to reflect upon our own communities.

Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence, Jane Howlett, said violence against women is a complex issue that not only affects victim-survivors, but also their families and the wider community.

“We all play a role in preventing this violence from happening and eliminating it from our community, and so many organisations across Tasmania are working very hard to achieve this,” Howlett said.

“We want all Tasmanians to be safe, equal and respected, and our homes, families and communities to be free from all forms of violence.

“Our Government is working closely with the Australian Government and all states and territories to achieve our shared vision of ending gender-based violence in one generation.”

The Tasmanian Government is investing more than $140 million under our Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027 to address family and sexual violence in Tasmania.

“We have partnered with the Australian Government to provide funding to the Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance to support the continued establishment of a new dedicated Family and Sexual Violence peak body,” Howlett said.

“Our Government is taking action to helping Tasmanians live free from violence.

“We remain steadfast in creating a Tasmania that is free from violence, with a broad range of measures in place to prevent family and sexual violence, respond to and support victim-survivors, and hold perpetrators to account.”

Media release – Tabatha Badger MHA, Greens spokesperson for the Prevention of Family Violence, 20 November 2025

Liquor Licensing Reform Must Centre Family Violence Impacts

The Rockliff Government’s review of Tasmania’s liquor licensing scheme must put the impacts on family violence front and centre.

Last year, the Liberals signed onto a National Cabinet agreement to review the impact of alcohol laws on family and domestic violence victims.

But instead of progressing that commitment, they’ve announced a review to “cut red tape”, with family violence impacts seemingly tacked on.

The consumption of alcohol is a significant aggravating factor in the perpetration of family and domestic violence.

That’s why other states and territories have made dealing with this issue their focus, including by introducing legislation.

We’re concerned to see that in Tasmania the priority seems to be more about increasing the availability of alcohol.

There may be some common-sense updates to make liquor licencing regulations easier to navigate, but the most important question for the government is what reforms they can introduce to help prevent family violence.

That issue should be the central focus of this review.

To reduce family and domestic violence, changes to liquor licensing laws should focus on harm minimisation as agreed in National Cabinet – not the cutting of red tape.

The Greens call on the Liberal Government to ensure family and domestic violence reduction is at the core of any liquor licensing reforms.

Media release – Community and Public Sector Union, 20 November 2025

Tasmanian Government Cancels Family Violence Walk

Response to correspondence from DPAC (forwarded below). In summary:

• Since 2015, the ‘Walk for the elimination of violence against women and children’ has been a significant event in Tasmania.
• Link to previous Head of State Service Jenny Gale statement.
• The public sector workforce and unions have been advised that the walk will no longer be held.

“Along with the ongoing under-resourcing of the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service, this decision signals that the elimination of violence against women and children is no longer a priority for the Tasmanian Government,” said Natalie Jones, Assistant Secretary, Community and Public Sector Union

“With the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission finding that Tasmanian women are reporting some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the country – now is not the time to step back,”

“The event is a real shame to lose because it brought everyone together – public sector leaders standing shoulder to shoulder with union and community leaders in a powerful display of our shared commitment to this cause.”

From: DPAC

Date: Thursday, 20 November 2025 at 15:30

Subject: Family Violence walk transition to a more inclusive approach [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Good afternoon

I am writing to provide you with an update on the Tasmanian State Service’s approach to recognising and preventing family and sexual violence, which has been shared across all agencies.

The Tasmanian Government is taking the opportunity to refresh how we demonstrate our shared commitment to ending family and sexual violence.

For a number of years, the annual Tasmanian State Service (TSS) Family Violence Walk in Hobart’s CBD has been a valued and symbolic event for the State Service.

However, from 2025 the walk will no longer be held, as it does not cater to our regionally dispersed workforce, nor does it accommodate the various ways that people may wish to participate in recognising the devasting impacts of family and sexual violence and the importance of stopping it before it starts.

In line with the Government’s partnership with Our Watch and the through the implementation of Workplace Equality and Respect Standards, we are broadening our focus from one event to sustained, meaningful action throughout the year.

From 2026, the TSS will transition towards a more inclusive and impactful approach that better represents our statewide workforce and strengthens our ongoing commitment to embedding cultural change.

This will include activated aligned with Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in May, creating more opportunities for participation across all regions, inside and outside of government.

In the meantime, this November, TSS employees are encouraged to continue recognising the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and participate in the 16 Days of Activism through local events, awareness-raising, and workplace reflection as individuals or teams.

Thank you for your ongoing support in advancing this important work.

Should you have any queries or wish to discuss further, please contact the SSMO team.

Media release – No to Violence, 25 November 2025

Grace Tame and Stan Grant to Headline Family Violence Conference in Tasmania

To mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, No to Violence, together with Stopping Family Violence (WA) and SPEAQ (QLD), has announced Grace Tame and Stan Grant as keynote speakers for the 2026 National Conference, Ending Men’s Family Violence: From Local Practice to National Strategy, in Hobart on 11-12 March 2026.

The conference will bring together practitioners, service providers, policymakers and researchers from across Australia and beyond in a shared commitment to end men’s family violence.

The event will connect frontline innovation to national policy reform, focusing on how communities, services and governments can work together for prevention, early intervention and response to men’s family violence and priorities for whole-of-system improvement.

“We’re honoured to have Grace Tame and Stan Grant lead this important national conversation,” said Phillip Ripper, CEO of No to Violence.

“Both have shown extraordinary courage in challenging the attitudes and structures that allow violence and inequality to persist. Their voices will help us build a common vision for accountability, healing and change to stop violence at the source.”

Across two days, the conference will explore practical and research-driven approaches to ending men’s use of family violence through collaboration and shared learning.

Sessions will focus on engaging men who use violence, intervening earlier to break cycles of harm, strengthening system accountability and driving structural reforms across services that promote safety and responsibility, while building the movement needed to shift norms and create lasting impact.

“Ending men’s family violence requires a collective effort from the frontline to national leadership,” said Damian Green, CEO of Stopping Family Violence.

“This conference provides a critical opportunity to strengthen collaboration across jurisdictions and ensure the voices of those working directly with men and boys are central to reform.”

Alex, co-convener of the SPEAQ Steering Committee, added: “If we want to end men’s domestic and family violence, we need to align practice and policy. This conference is about sharing what works and learning from each other as we continue working towards safety, accountability, and genuine sustained change.”

Ending Men’s Family Violence – From Local Practice to National Strategy

2026 National Conference

Presented by No to Violence in collaboration with Stopping Family Violence and SPEAQ

11-12 March 2026

The Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, Tasmania

Tickets available at here.