Mission & Justice

Dalya Dajani; 7/8/08

It looked like a fun-packed day at the pool for the little boy as he swam back and forth between his parents’ arms. Wearing a pair of bright orange floaters, the toddler splashed around several times, then suddenly began to struggle. “Daddy I’m getting tired,” the boy moaned. “What do mean you’re getting tired you animal! It’s only been a few minutes. Swim back now!” he roared. Obeying his father’s order, the boy swam back only to face more humiliation as his father yanked him by the arm, pinched him on the thigh and told him: “You are no good.”The boy’s mother, looking visibly distressed, tried to intervene but a silent glare from her husband signalled her to keep quiet.

(more…)

Deborah Gough; 6/7/08

Anti-family violence initiatives have failed to reduce the number of domestic abuse deaths in Australia and without a change in community attitudes, the percentage of people killed by relatives is unlikely to fall, according to Victoria Police deputy commissioner Simon Overland. Mr Overland was speaking to The Sunday Age after a spate of shocking family violence incidents in the past fortnight, which claimed the lives of 10 people including five children. He said despite a series of police and legislative measures being introduced since 2004, community attitudes towards domestic abuse had remained largely unchanged, with people still reluctant to report abuse.

(more…)

Joshua Arlo; 16/6/08

There is a real need for Papua New Guinea to update statistics on the issue of violence against women in the country and comprehensive data needs to be collected and compiled for the Government to use to combat this form of human rights abuse. Line agency officer with gender and development section of the Community Development Department, Jenny Sliviak-Kidu said last Thursday what PNG needs is a central body that concentrates on collecting relevant data on the issue inside PNG and compiling it into statistics which can be used by appropriate government or non-government agencies to approach the issue. She said when trying to give accurate statistics on the issue, it was difficult and most information gathered only come from welfare and or counselling center which do not represent the real figures in PNG.

(more…)

Imre Salusinszky; 26/4/08

The Rudd Government is about to launch a major takeover of child protection, leveraging its control of family assistance and childcare to intervene earlier in the child abuse cycle. The move comes in response to the deepening crisis in state-based child protection systems across Australia. Also among the wide-ranging reforms being considered is a new Children’s Commissioner, who would monitor the performance of the states in combating child abuse. A proposed national framework for child protection could also include elements of the Howard government’s intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities - such as quarantining welfare payments to make sure they are used in the best interests of children.

(more…)