‘Collective action’ – parliamentarians commit to ending violence against women at Our Watch Parliament event

Last night at Parliament House in Canberra, Our Watch and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum spoke about their unwavering support and commitment to preventing violence against women.

The event, hosted by Our Watch and Parliamentary Friends of Ending Violence Against Women and Children, was attended by ministers, senators, members and the Our Watch board.

Our Watch Chair Moo Baulch spoke at the event, sharing her deep sadness about the high rates of violence against women in Australia, where this year alone, 56 women’s lives have been cut short due to men’s violence.

“This is the heartbreaking reality that we need to confront head-on if we are to achieve our vision of a future where women and their children live free from all forms of violence,” Baulch said.

It is with this reality at the forefront that Baulch continued to address the importance of prevention – to stop violence before it starts by changing the attitudes, structures and power imbalances that enable this violence to happen.

Baulch also spoke about the crucial importance of multipartisan support from government for sustained, long-term work to prevent violence against women.

“It’s only though the collaboration of all the people in the room tonight, and all the communities that we are members of, that prevention will be effective,” she said.

“As ministers, members and senators you have a critical role to play. You set the environment, you have a role as decision makers in shaping the legislative and policy environment, and as human beings we all have levers of power and ways of having those conversations”.

Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly officially launched the Our Watch Strategic Plan 2024-2029 at the event. The plan focuses on four goal areas: growing knowledge, inspiring action, leading for impact and strengthening performance.

Kinnersly said that the plan builds on the foundations of all primary prevention work, the courageous experiences of victim-survivors and meaningful and enduring partnerships.

“Our strategic plan is not just a document, it is a commitment. A commitment to action, change and a future where violence against women is not just preventable, but unthinkable.

“Everything Our Watch does, our goals, our outcomes and our objectives, are a commitment to the 56 women who have lost their lives to violence this year. Fifty-six women who deserved more from all of us,” Kinnersly said.

Other speakers at the event included The Honourable Justine Elliot, Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, and Senator Larissa Waters, Co-Convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of Ending Violence against Women.

The Parliamentary Friends for Ending Violence against Women recently wrote this opinion piece, ‘When it comes to ending violence against women, we must leave political lines behind,’ published in The Guardian about their commitment to prevention.

Media contact

Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or call 0448 844 930.

If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.

To access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children, visit media.ourwatch.org.au.

Our Watch

Our Watch is a national leader in Australia’s work to stop violence against women and their children before it starts. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children.