Words for Wellbeing - Student Takeover for 16 Days of Activism

Welcome to Words for Wellbeing

Welcome to your penultimate Wellbeing newsletter, a special student takeover edition in preparation for 16 Days of Activism spanning from November 25th til Human Rights Day on December 10th.

Our students, who wish to remain anonymous, also designed a special extended homeroom activity for today and shared this message with all of our Year 7 - 10 students.

Family violence is any behaviour of violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or suffering including threats of harm or coercion in public or private life. 

Next week marks the start of 16 Days of Activism, which is an international movement against gender based violence ending on the 10th of December which is Human Rights Day.

The theme this year is to “Orange the World” to increase awareness about gender based violence. We thought this would be a good opportunity to take a stand and remind people that everyone has the right to be safe.

We invite you to sign a pledge standing against violence and with those affected by it. We also invite your class to place a number of orange people in the ground in front of our school  between homeroom and period one, representing the population affected by family violence in Australia.’

The pledge reads:

We stand against family violence and in solidarity with those who experience it. We commit to speak up and take action for the 1 in 3 women and the 1 in 20 men who experience family violence in our community.

To our entire Emmanuel Community and please enjoy everything on offer in this edition of Words for Wellbeing.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE campaign) calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which will run from 25 November to 10 December 2021, is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!”

Stop It At The Start Campaign

Lollies Lollies Lollies - Competition

Guess the number of Sherbies in the jar - your gold coin donations (to be given to your homeroom teacher) will be donated to Emma House!

Emma House

https://www.emmahouse.org.au/

Our Vision

A society where women and children live free from violence.

Our Mission

Emma House Domestic Violence Services is a courageous feminist, client-lead organisation that aims to reduce the impact of domestic and family violence on individuals, women and children and our community.

Our Values

Compassion: We will adopt a compassionate and empathetic approach to leadership that welcomes different perspectives, values collaboration and promotes empowerment and safety.

Courage: We will do what needs to be done to build thriving culture, to operate differently by sharing power and promoting equality.

Growth: We adopt a growth mindset, valuing learning and perseverance. We present feedback that inspires future success and recognise the potential for growth.

Integrity: We will do what we say we will do by building strong organisational clarity, transparency and accountability to our people, women and children and the community

How does this shape our work

• We believe in gender equality.
• We include women and children’s voices in everything we do.
• We support our workforce to be the best they can be.
• We deliver a contemporary best practice model of specialist family violence services to women and children, focusing on critical safety responses.
• We are a shining example of an effective and accountable feminist organisation.
• We hold perpetrators of violence accountable for their actions.
• We prioritise protection of women, provision of services and prevention of further violence
• We support and encourage the community to understand and address family violence, emphasising zero tolerance.

Emma House supports:

• Women and children affected by family violence from partner, parent, or other family member
• Woman and children of all ages, backgrounds and spiritual or religious beliefs
• Women with a disability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children
• Culturally and linguistically diverse women and children
• Women who chose to remain with their partner who is using violence and women who have left or wish to leave
• Women of all sexual orientations as well as transgender women and intersex women
• Women and children who are currently being affected by family violence and who have been affected by it in the past

Emma House actively values and promotes diversity in our community and affirms our commitment to always be inclusive and respectful to all, regardless of gender, age, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, level of ability, cultural or language background.

Emma House complies with the Child Safe Standards and is committed to:

• Providing a safe environment for all children which promotes their health, safety and wellbeing;
• Promoting an organisational culture of child safety in which children feel valued, respected and cared for;
• Identifying, reducing and removing the risks of child abuse;
• Intervening  when a child may be at risk of abuse
• Making staff aware of their legal and moral obligations in reporting child abuse

Respect Victoria: Respect Women, Call It Out (Respect Is)

https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/16-days-activism-2021

Why is this campaign important?

Respect is the building block of all healthy relationships. Respect is offered, exchanged and received in the places we spend our time: homes, schools, workplaces, sporting clubs and more. Respect is a word most of us are familiar with; and we apply it to our lives and relationships in different ways. 

Yet almost daily, the evidence of women encountering disrespect, sexism, harassment, and violence is exposed. This year, young women in particular have been taking a stand and calling out disrespect and abuse – from schoolyards to the halls of parliament, they continue to make it clear that enough is enough. There is a groundswell movement happening in Australia and globally. The many and varied ways through which women and young girls experience inequality are no longer hidden from view. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has also exacerbated and brought into focus some of the ways that women are facing disrespect and violence across the country and globe. Victoria has seen increased rates of family violence, and women are bearing the brunt of unpaid domestic and caring work. 

Choosing to lead with respect in our relationships, workplaces, schools, universities, and homes can ultimately prevent family violence and violence against women. 

What is the link between family violence and gender inequality? 

Family violence and violence against women and girls is a devastating act of disrespect and one of the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. Gender inequality is one of the biggest drivers of violence against women and family violence, and despite significant progress, continues to   be a very real concern. 

While Australia’s attitudes to violence against women and gender inequality are improving, sexism, gender stereotypes, and outdated attitudes continue to exist and thrive in homes, workplaces, schools, and across broader society.

The 2017 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) found that: 

• 1 in 5 Australians would not be bothered if a male friend told a sexist joke about a woman
• 42% of Australians believe that it is common for sexual assault accusations to be used as a way of ‘getting back’ at men 
• Nearly 1 in 3 Australians believe that if a woman sends a nude image to her male partner, then she is partly responsible if he shares it without permission 
• Nearly 1 in 4 young Australians disagree that violence against women is common 
• 34% of Australians think it’s natural for a man to want to appear in control of his partner in front of male friends 

Gender inequality continues to be a significant problem in Australia, yet the NCAS found that 40% of people believe that many women exaggerate when they talk about inequality. To learn more about the NCAS survey, download the re-shaping attitudes toolkit available on the research section of Respect Victoria's website

The groundswell we are continuing to see shows that Australians are ready for change. Respectful relationships flourish when we remove stereotypes, challenge sexism, and make a choice to lead with respect. 

How to call it out

Gender-based violence and disrespect occurs where we work, learn, socialise and rest. By calling out disrespect, harassment and sexism early, we can stop violence before it starts.  

Importantly, there is no 'right way' to call it out or be an active bystander, and it’s important to put your own safety first. Depending on the situation, calling it out could look like: 

• Vocally calling out inappropriate behaviour 
• Physically repositioning yourself closer to the victim as a show of support
• Take note of the inappropriate behaviour witnessed and report the incident to the relevant authorities after the event

Signal Respect Project - 16 Days of Activism Art Competition

CALLING ALL CREATIVES!!In recognition of this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the Signal Respect project is hosting an art competition!!

The rules are super easy, if you are aged 12-25 all you need to do is the following:

Follow this event to keep up to date with the competition details AND inspiration.

Draw, paint, snap, collage, sketch, film your interpretation of ANY or all of these words RESPECT. EQUALITY. ACCOUNTABILITY. EMPOWERMENT.

Submit your piece by snapping a photo and sending it to rwinnen@brophy.org.au (we welcome art in all forms)

PRIZES!

1st $200 Visa Debit Card
2nd $150 Cotton On voucher
3rd $100 Lockology Escape Room voucher
4th $75 Table Top Games voucher
5th $50 Capitol Cinema voucher

AND finally, with your permission, your art may be SHOWCASED ON A TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOX located in the Warrnambool CBD to leave your mark regarding this important topic and for the community to admire!

Competition closes on December 10, World Human Rights Day.

Happy creating!!
In partnership with the Warrnambool City Council, Respect Victoria and Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria