Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Greetings Amanda ...

Greetings Amanda,

It was wonderful to have someone actually respond to my blog so thank you very much for taking the time to do that. (Would appreciate knowing how you came to find out about this online resource/blog.)

Yes, it was great to get a response to my letters, unfortunately that has not resulted in any response from those would could assist and protect Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse - our government still ignores us - apparently "judicial fairness" is not considered necessary and worth demanding as the government insisted for David Hicks, and although Federal Police and Department of Foreign Affairs officers have already travelled Africa to assist the recently kidnapped journalist - there is no such assistance for Australian children and women.


Despite having shared this information with many parts of the “domestic violence industry” and people who claim to care about children and women’s human rights and right to safety and security as you can easily see I get very very few comments or people sharing this information to inform and protect children and women.

You raise some interesting questions and concerns. Unfortunately it is not as easy and supported as it should be for children and women to escape domestic violence, and when a woman takes her children and leaves a situation of domestic violence this does not necessarily end the abuse or guarantee her and her children the safety and support they need and deserve. Three children recently murdered by their abusive father in New South Wales exemplifies the threats and real dangers facing children and women trying to escape domestic violence. If our society, services, systems and politicians do not hold the abuser accountable and protect innocent and vulnerable children and women how can we expect an abused mother to do that on her own?

If a woman is in a position where her abusive former spouse had attempted to kill her, threatened to kill or told her he will do whatever he needs to to take her children away from her and make sure she never sees them again then she is always afraid of what he might do if she tries to have contact with her children in his control. If a woman is in the position where some of her children are “of the age of majority” but some are still with the abusive father then she will have concerns about the younger ones safety if she is able to develop a relationship with her older children. Many people understand the dangers and difficulties facing adult women trying to leave an abusive relationship but somehow think it would be easier for the abusers children to leave, to say to this person I am not going to let you control or threaten me anymore.

We are all familiar will the saying “it takes a village to raise a child”. That same “village” needs to take collective responsibility for children’s and their mothers safety, security and support when they are the victims of domestic violence in a family in their “village”. I don’t know if you heard about Colin/Colette the baby hump-backed whale in Sydney – but is amazed me the efforts people and the government went to for this baby whale and the outrage that some expressed when it couldn’t be saved. If people were as publicly outraged about the plight of some human babies and children, about mothers that desperately want to nurture, care for, protect and parent their children but are prevented from doing so by abusive spouses and abusive systems where no one comes to protest and the media ignores them, children and women would be safer and our service providers and agencies saved a lot of unnecessary expense.

Once again Amanda, thank for taking the time and interest to respond to the information in this blog and please share the information and resources with anyone you think it will benefit and protect, or who genuinely cares about children and women’s right to safety and security.

Take care … take heart … Merinda

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

A glimmer of light across the plains in the darkness ... more than just a min-min ...

A glimmer of light across the plains in the dark … more than just a min-min …

How do I describe to you what it mean to me to receive a response from Ms Lisa Wilkinson (a member of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children), Mr Ahmed Fahour and Honorary Professor Tony Vinson (members of the Australian Social Inclusion Board) to the letters I wrote to the members of these new government bodies who were not already aware that there are Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial failures.

Ms Wilkinson appreciated receiving the information even though she found it “quite disturbing”. Because she wanted to help she passed this information on to Tanya Plibersek as Ms Wilkinson sincerely believed “The matter is best handled by Tanya Plibersek’s office”, now I have the unpleasant duty of informing her that that is what I had also once believed but when I begged for assistance from Ms Plibersek while Shadow Minister for Women, she informed she was unable to assist as she was not in government (as opposed to being able to speak up for “judicial fairness” and government assistance for David Hicks and other issues regarding violence against children and women, see post “Ministerial Accountability, Domestic Violence and the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” at my online resource/blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com ). And now as Minster for Women in the new Rudd government Ms Plibersek and her office have chosen not to provide safety, security, support, assistance or advocacy for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial inadequicies nad inequities despite my many requests for assistance from that office. Even Ms Wilkinson’s forwarding of information has nor resulted in any assistance or expression of care, concern or compassion from Tanya Plibersek or her office.

Unfortunately, Professor Cathy Humphreys, who informed me “female politicians will not speak up about this for fear of backlash” and the “government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it” continues to prove accurate – to bad the media choses not to speak up about these issues until after the fact, after more children and women are dead! One would have thought with the events in New South Wales in the last couple of weeks where so many innocent and vulnerable children and women have been murdered and attacked by male family members there would be an immediate response when desperate mothers beg for protection for their children and themselves.

Which makes it even more precious and appreciated when people, like Ms Wilkinson and Hon Prof Tony Vinson, do take time to let you know they care and have taken action that they believe should make a difference.

When Hon Prof Tony Vinson responded to my letter he let me know that he “was distressed by the contents of the letter” and has expressed concern and compassion for my children, myself and others in similar circumstances. Hon Prof Vinson has since maintained contact despite the personal cost of time and money and other commitments in his busy life. He has committed himself to reading the extensive documentation I have mailed to him to help him understand our and other children and women’s traumatic situation.

For children and women who have experienced the trauma and isolation of domestic violence and the ongoing trauma of systemic and judicial failures to provide safety and justice, any experience and expression of genuine care, concern and compassion is an incredible gift when these issues are more commonly ignored or only of interest after the fact as sensationalised news. Reaching out, letting people know you care, recognising the pain and trauma of others existence if a priceless gift which costs nothing!

Thank you Lisa and Tony for being glimmers of light across the plains in the darkness …

Take care … take heart … Merinda

Monday, June 30, 2008

Ministerial Accountability, Domestic Violence & the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children

National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children
The letter copied below and supporting information mailed to National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children members as noted, Tuesday 3rd June 2008, (some Council members and/or their organisations had already been directly approached begging for assistance and support and had not been available or for whatever reason chosen not to support or assist us or use my information to protect others from a similar traumatic experience). No response as yet.

How do I and other women who have experienced violence and are desperately trying to gain safety, security and support for their children and themselves understand the lack of response and the ethical gap between what is said and what is done (or not done) in regards to violence against children and women. If no member of the newly announced National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children is compassionate enough or available to even respond to communication from women and mothers desperate for safety and security for their children and themselves what does this mean about the Council, and the environment, mandate, safety, integrity, ethics, or opportunity for any change to the lived reality of violence experienced by children and women?

* * *


Heather Nancarrow


Re: National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, and Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse.

Dear Ms Nancarrow,

Congratulations on your appointment as Deputy Chair to the newly announced National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (as per Australian Government media release 26th May 2008).

I am contacting you to beg for your and the council’s assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.

Information regarding my attempts to obtain safety, security and support for us and deal with the problems encountered in a foreign justice system where justice department employees misrepresent in court information from professionals regarding immigrant women and their children’s experience of domestic abuse can be found on the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com (see posts “The Perils of Indifference…”, “Dear Mr Prime Minister …”, “A letter to our new prime minister …”, “Waiting and hoping …” and “Further out of view … further out of mind …”). Extensive documentation has been supplied to numerous government departments, politicians and advocacy organisations over many years in efforts to obtain support and assistance. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Tanya Plibersek MP and Maxine McKew MP are a few of the people who have received that documentation and would be able to supply you with copies of that information.

The implications for children and women when there is an “ethical gap” between what is said and what is actually done for children and women who have experienced domestic and family violence are very concerning. Despite begging for assistance from many who say they care about these issues (see post “The Perils of Indifference … ) we have been ignored or excuses found not to assist us - despite the willingness to intervene on behalf of David Hicks, Schapelle Corby, the “Bali Nine”, Canadian seal hunt protestors, whales, the last asylum seekers on Nauru, and most recently a Chinese asylum seeker accused of corruption in her homeland.

This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.

A guest speaker at the “Towards Better Practice: Enhancing collaboration between women’s mental health services and domestic violence services” seminar, hosted by Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work, (proceedings posted at the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website) informed me that “female politicians will not speak up about these issues for fear of backlash” and that “the government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it”. I am hoping that with the formation of this new council there are safer, more supportive and more immediate options now available to women and children who have experienced violence.

There are members of your council and the previous and present governments who have been aware of our and other similar situations for more than twelve months and for whatever reason have not been willing or available to provide us assistance, support or advocacy or to use my information to prevent other Australians from a similar traumatic experience. Hopefully the newly formed National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children will make it safe for all involved to speak up and work together for children’s and women’s immediate safety. My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and personal research to contribute to safety, security, support and sustainable futures for all children and women.

Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,



Cc Dorinda Cox, Maria Dimopoulos, Dr Melanie Heenan, Rachel Kayrooz, Andrew O’Keefe, Vanessa Swan, Lisa Wilkinson


* * *


Remarks to Inaugural Meeting if the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0285.cfm (04 June 2008)

Media Release – Member of the National Council to reduce violence against women and children announced. 26/05/2008 http://www.tanyaplibersek.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/tanyaplibersek.nsf/content/nat_council_violence_26may08.htm

Office for Women- National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women And Children, Terms of Reference http://www.ofw.fahcsia.gov.au/womens_safety_agenda/national_council_reduce_violence.htm

New Leadership, Fact Sheet- Protection and prevention: Labor’s national plan to reduce violence against women. Found at www.kevin07.com.au

“Don’t ask, don’t tell – domestic violence” Tanya Plibersek, Australian Labor Party media release, 18th December 2008 www.alp.org.au/media/1205/mswom190.php

“Prevention and Protection: Federal Labor’s National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” Tanya Plibersek - Media Statement – 18th November 2007, www.alp.org.au/media/1107/mswom180.php

Tanya Plibersek MP, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Women & Youth, “The Commonwealth’s role in improving the safety of women and children”, NSW Legal Aid, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Program Annual Conference, Sydney, 2 August 2007.

“Violence taunt triggers demand for apology” Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 5th June, 2008, p4 by Phillip Coorey, Chief Political Correspondent http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/violence-taunt-triggers-demand-for-apology/2008/06/04/1212258910245.html
“The Opposition was last night demanding an apology after Minister for the Status of Women,, Tanya Plibersek, questions its attitude towards reducing violence against women when in government.”
The article goes on to describe as scene in parliament when “During question time, Ms Plibersek lauded yesterday morning’s inaugural meeting of the Government’s National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children. … She caused anger when she said the actions initiated by the Rudd Government were in stark contrast to those of its predecessor. She ribbed Ms Bishop, who held the status of women portfolio in the Howard government for focussing on advertising and publications to tackle the problem.”
The article concludes, “Ms Plibersek said she was not questioning the Coalitions attitude but she would not be doing her job if she did not question how public money was spent.”
Tanya Plibersek, Julie Bishop and their respective political parties have been contacted and had extensive documentation shared with them over many the years about the plight of Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and have refused to provide any assistance, support and advocacy or speak publicly about these issues. It is hard to imagine that while they ignore us they do respond to other children and women desperate for safety and protection from violence – but if so why?

* * *

Copied below is an email I sent to Ms Plibersek in August 2005, begging for assistance for my children and myself as Australians trapped overseas by domestic violence and judicial abuse, and the reply I received from Ms Plibersek’s office. Since the 2007 federal election despite now being in government and being the Minister for Women Ms Plibersek is still not available to assist Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse use my information to protect others from a similar trauma or respond to the extensive supporting documentation forwarded from Senator Joe Ludwig’s office by his assistant Merritt Foley (the extensive documentation was sent to Senator Ludwig when he was Shadow Attorney General).

* * *


Dear Ms …

Thank you for your email to Tanya Plibersek. Tanya has asked me to
respond on her behalf. As your email query refers to issues with the
Canadian justice system and the … Justice Department our
office is not able to assist you. Tanya is an opposition Shadow
Minister. She is not in government and as such cannot intervene in your
case.

We are sorry we are not able to assist you further.


Pia van de Zandt
Office of Tanya Plibersek MP
Federal Member for Sydney
Shadow Minister for Work and Family
Shadow Minister for Childcare and Youth
Shadow Minister for Women
Ph: 9357 6366


-----Original Message-----
From: …
Sent: Wednesday, 24 August 2005 2:14 PM
To: Plibersek, Tanya (MP); ….

Subject: Australian women seek safety and justice.




Dear Ms Tanya Plibersek, …..


I am contacting you in regards to a personal situation that has
been extremely challenging and traumatic. For the well-being of my three
daughters, who are also Australian citizens, I hope you will be able to
read and respond to this situation with the same sense of urgency that
you would hope for if a situation like this was affecting you or your
family. I am sorry that because of the stress this is causing me I have
not been able to compile and write the accompanying material in as an
articulate and clear fashion as I would have liked and it may not
contain all the information you require to understand this situation.

Previously I contacted Bill Jackson, Australian Consulate,
Ottawa, Department of Foreign Affairs and Kay Hull, MP Riverina, in
regards to this situation (November 1999), and emailed Senator Kay
Patterson, Office of Women and Kay Hull (August 9, 2005). I do not have
enough information to know what if anything was done by the parties I
contacted in 1999 but in response to my recent emails (with the same
information attached as this email) the Office of Women sent me a email
to confirm receipt of my communication - after I had phoned them - but I
have received no further communication from that office. Kay Hull has
emailed me and notified me that she spoke with "the Minister" (I am not
sure who she is referring to) and their response is that there is no
role or responsibility for assistance or intervention on our behalf by
the government.

This response confuses me as I have ample documentation to show
that not only did my former spouse and other Canadian's deliberately
misrepresent information in court to deprive my children and I of our
right to safety and our right to return to Australia, but to also to
show that the … Justice Department and its employees were
involved in misrepresenting information from myself and professionals in regards to our experience
of domestic abuse, for the same reason. Because of our Australian
citizenship we were not able to receive just and impartial treatment in
the …. justice system.

I would appreciate if with your knowledge and experience you
could give me your perspective.

What I want is safety for my children and myself, to give my
daughters a rich and safe childhood such as I experienced in Australia
and to have the opportunity to contribute to my country the way other
members of my family are enjoying.


Thank you for your consideration of this information,
Sincerely,


* * *


When Ms Plibersek responded to my email and informed me that because “my query refers to issues with the Canadian justice system and the … Justice Department our office is not able to assist you” she was aware that the Australian government had been providing assistance and legal funding to Schapelle Corby for over twelve months, the “Bali Nine” for five months and might have already been involved in Labor Party discussions regarding holding the government accountable to “judicial fairness” for David Hicks (who had gone overseas to fight for the Taliban, an organisation that believes in denying girls and women equality and human rights). Certainly the fact that they were “not in government” did not stop members of the Labor Party intervening or expecting the government to intervene in Mr Hick’s case, or prevent Ms Plibersek from making press releases regarding the government and violence against children and women as noted above.

The above email response (or lack of response) is not consistent with information and assertions in media releases and other public statements from either Ms Plibersek or the Australian Labor Party.

It is not that there aren’t resources or precedents for assisting other Australians experiencing difficulties overseas, from whale and seal hunt protestors to those who set off on other trips known to be equally perilous such as crossing Greenland, from those harmed in the London and Bali bombings to those caught up in the most recent bombing in Lebanon, from paedophiles who choose to travel to Asian countries to sexually assault children to someone who was recently jailed in Indian for accidentally straying across the border from Nepal “but was released after pressure from the Australian government”.
The men who were jailed in Lebanon after assisting Canadian Melissa Hawarth regain custody of her daughters were also released after pressure form the Australian government. Even a Chinese woman who is in Australia illegally and wanted in her homeland on corruption charges has benefited from the Australian government advocating on her behalf with the Chinese government in regards to her treatment in China’s justice system when she is returned - to those who have given up their Australian citizenship such as Douglas Woods who the government readily and immediately contacted the United Nations to ask for assistance for and spent $10 million rescuing from Iraq.

This year Bob Debus MP, Minister for Home Affairs has worked hard to finalise the prison transfers of Schapelle Corby and some members of the “Bali Nine” (See ABC online article “AM – Further talks on prison transfer treaty with Indonesia” by Lindy Kerin www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2177656.htm , Herald Sun article “Prison deal could bring Schapelle Corby home” by Garry Linnell, March 03,2008 – “Schapelle Corby’s hopes of coming home to serve out her 20-year sentence have been dramatically boosted by talks between the Government and Indonesia- … and AAP article “Academic says Corby prison deal difficult” 3rd March 2008). These and other articles document the concern, compassion, resources and advocacy for convicted drug traffickers, (for whom the government has already provided consular assistance and legal funding) from the present and previous governments, mentioning efforts by Alexander Downer, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Philip Ruddock former Attorney-General and most recently Bob Debus current Minister for Home Affairs, who is credited with finalising these prison transfer deals. But for Australian children and women trapped overseas (not because they were convicted of a crime but because they are victims of a crime that is ignored) by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse there is no compassion, no care and concern, no resources, no consular assistance and no legal funding – no one engages in any discussions at any level to try and ensure that we get to come home and be close to family as has been the concern expressed for convicted drug smugglers!

Australian Social Inclusion Board ...

Australian Social Inclusion Board



The following letter was mailed to all members of the Australian Social Inclusion Board, Friday 20th June 2008, no response as yet, (unfortunately there was typographical error in the phone number – the “36”, should have been “63”).

* * *



Professor Fiona Stanley


Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Professor Stanley,

Congratulations on your appointment to the newly created Australian Social Inclusion Board (as per media release 21st May 2008).

I am contacting you to beg for your and the Australian Social Inclusion Board’s assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.

Information regarding my attempts to obtain safety, security and support for us and deal with the problems encountered in a foreign justice system where justice department employees misrepresent in court information from professionals regarding immigrant women and their children’s experience of domestic abuse can be found on the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com (see posts “The Perils of Indifference…”, “Dear Mr Prime Minister …”, “A letter to our new prime minister …”, “Waiting and hoping …” and “Further out of view … further out of mind …”). Extensive documentation has been supplied to numerous government departments, politicians and advocacy organisations over many years in efforts to obtain support and assistance. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard MP, Tanya Plibersek MP and Maxine McKew MP are a few of the people who have received relevant documentation and would be able to supply you with copies of that information.

This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.

A guest speaker at the “Towards Better Practice: Enhancing collaboration between women’s mental health services and domestic violence services” seminar, hosted by Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work, (proceedings posted at the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website) informed me that “female politicians will not speak up about these issues for fear of backlash” and that “the government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it”. I am hoping that with the formation of this new board there are safer, more supportive and more immediate options now available to women and children who have experienced violence and are desperate to experience safety and social inclusion.

My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years.

In his “Remarks to Inaugural Meeting of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” (04 June 2008) our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, states “The Government’s approach to tackling violence against women is also part of a broader framework of social inclusion. And very simply it is this. If you have a social inclusion agenda to build healthy communities, if it works effectively, and you have maximum participation in the nation’s social and economic opportunities, it usually generates a healthier web of relationships.” The media release regarding the first meeting of the Australian Social Inclusion Board (21 May 2008) refers to “priorities which are important to the social inclusion agenda …homelessness … mental health” and “children at risk”, all of which are challenges and issues for children and women who have experienced violence.

These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to safety, security, support, sustainable futures and social inclusion for all children and women. I would be happy to become a member of the new Australian Social Inclusion Board and any other body that contributes to effective, practical, timely solutions to the health, governance, economic, well-being and sustainability challenges of our country, our region and our shared planet.

Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

….

Cc Ms Patricia Faulkner, Monsignor Cappo, Ms Linda White, Ms Kerry Graham, Mr Tony Nicholson, Dr Chris Sarra, Ms Elleni Bereded-Samuel, Dr Ngiare Brown, Dr Ron Edwards, Mr Eddie Maguire, Dr John Falzon, Mr Ahmed Fahour, Hon Professor Tony Vinson


* * *

For further information see:

www.socialinclusion.gov.au Australian government website re Social Inclusion

www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2008/media_release_0256.cfm (21 May 2008) Media release re new Australian Social Inclusion Board

Previous post “Waiting and hoping …” which includes a letter to Julia Gillard MP (one of the ministers responsible for the new Board) and rejected nomination for the Australia 2020 Summit.

Thanks for offering to help ...

* * *

Ben Schokman
Human Rights Law Resource Centre
Melbourne, Victoria



Dear Mr Schokman,

Thank you for the phone conversation and the information you shared with me.

Please find following –
2-page letter to named members of the National Council to Prevent Violence Against Women and Children (mailed 3rd May 2008 with dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Developing a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships” which my eldest child and I were involved in, am mailing you a copy)
2 pages contact details re National Council to Reduce Violence Against Children and Women
1 page letter to Law Council of Australia (mailed express 27th May 2008 with extensive documentation)
1 page article today’s Sydney Morning Herald, mentions new council

If the members of the newly announced National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children were aware that you and others were aware of our situation and these issues would we be safer and more likely to receive assistance?

There are so many other twists to and hypocrisies involved with our situation, i.e. Jack Layton, Canadian federal MP, leader of the NDP, is one of the co-founders of the White Ribbon Campaign, he did not responded to my phone call and emails begging for assistance, and it is the NDP who were the provincial government in … , Canada at the time that province’s justice department was having its employee misrepresent information in court about immigrant women and their children’s experience of domestic violence. In both Canada and Australia politicians, academics, delegates to international and UN conferences who say they care about the issues of violence against children and women will not assist us or speak up on these issues.

So would it be appropriate for you to share this information with Transparency International as well?

In my online resource/blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com the post “As it is written …” mentions some of the laws and international instruments that should have protected us.

There are some important things about our situation and these issues I would like to be clear about:
- We need and deserve immediate safety, security and support
-I want to be part of the solution, as those in the disability community say “Nothing about us without us!”, there are already too many who have participated in creating a domestic violence “industry” which benefits those “experts” who never have and never will experience domestic and family violence while doing little to change children and women’s lived reality of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. There has to be something productive I can do with my experiential knowledge and extensive research, instead of others trying to benefit from it and appropriate my intellectual property without assisting us. I would be quiet happy to be an additional member to the new Council, have recently applied to the NSW Premier’s Council for Prevention of Violence Against Women (no response as yet) and had applied to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit – and was rejected! (See post “Further out of view … further out of mind …” at my online resource/blog).
- I see these issues as interconnected with and not divisible from other social justice, governance, economic and sustainability issues
- These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable, knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar experiences, which would assist in starting to collect statistics and other helpful information. (Maybe the groups you mentioned could host a publicity campaign and toll free phone number for a period of time – or request the new Council to do so).


If it is helpful I can mail you the extensive supporting documentation that I have shared with many others while trying to gain support and assistance for us and other children and women in similar traumatic circumstances.

Sincerely,




* * *


Ben has let me know that he is trying to compile the extensive documentation that I forwarded to him so that he can share that in a more comprehensible form with organisation that the Human Rights Law Resource Centre has been working with to enable them to advocate for us and all Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.

At one stage in one of our conversations Ben thought I was angry with him because of the loud angry way I was speaking. I felt very badly about that, especially since he was one person who had offered to do something to help! I tried to explain to him that I wasn’t angry at him but at the situation my children and I and other children and women were experiencing, at how difficult it was to get any assistance or support when supposedly so many people find violence against children and women unacceptable, at how there was immediate assistance for drug traffickers and Douglas woods and bomb blast victims – but nothing for children and women who have experienced domestic violence – and how long it was all taking and how afraid I am that considering some of our and others experiences there is a chance that we will not survive this.

* * *

Ask and you shall receive ... ?

* * *


Brett Solomon
GetUp Ltd
GPO Box A105
South Sydney, New South Wales 1235

Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Sir,

I have previously contacted GetUp on several occasions begging for assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. The first few times I was lead to believe that someone would review the online resource I had created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com , but no one got back to me. The last time I phoned I was informed that David Hicks was your priority and then you had other campaigns lined up therefore had no resources to address these issues - but when I saw your “ad” for “FuelWatch” at the conclusion of last nights Q&A Adventures in Democracy programme on the ABC I hoped that seeing you had resources available for that you might be now in a position to assist us.

As your website states “GetUp does not back any particular party, but aims to build an accountable and progressive Parliament – a Parliament with economic fairness, social justice and environment at its core.” I hope that you will be available to advocate for and assist us and help address the “ethical gap” between what is said and what is done in relation to violence against children and women, and how harmful that is to social justice, democracy, accountability, the economy and healthy sustainable communities.

This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.

A guest speaker at the “Towards Better Practice: Enhancing collaboration between women’s mental health services and domestic violence services” seminar, hosted by Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work, (proceedings posted at the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website) informed me that “female politicians will not speak up about these issues for fear of backlash” and that “the government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it”. What we need are safer, more supportive and more immediate options for women and children who have experienced violence.

Some of the disturbing things I have discovered while begging for assistance include:

• Publicly funded organisations whose excuse for not speaking up on these issues is that they cannot say anything negative about the government or they will lose their funding
• Australia 2020 Summit participants who will not speak up about these issues
• Government and non-government delegates to the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women who will not provide any support, assistance or speak up on theses issues. (Is that a government requirement for selection?)
• Politicians from every political party who believed David Hicks deserved government intervention and “judicial fairness” but no politicians who believe innocent and vulnerable Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse deserve any assistance, support or government intervention, and who do not use the information I have supplied to warn and protect others from a similar trauma
• Researchers and academics who have status as “experts” on these issues but will not assist, provide support or speak up on these issues. (Is it because they fear losing research funding? Or are they ethically comfortable making a living being an “expert” on violence against children and women without caring about those children and women’s experience of violence or feeling any compunction to be part of change – academic community justifies this by calling them “critical theorists”.)
• The Government spends public funds warning Australians of the risks and consequences of being involved with drug trafficking while overseas; something we all know is illegal. When you ignore those warnings, and chose to participate in this criminal activity, in the case of the “Bali Nine” for example, the government will still provide you with consular assistance, pay your legal expenses and try to organise prison transfers for you. If you are the victim of the crime of domestic violence while overseas, the government contends it cannot assist or intervene, and then finances foreign jurisdictions that use government resources to deny Australian children and women safety and justice. (What does this government attitude mean in relation to children and women here who experience domestic violence?)

If it is helpful I can mail you the extensive supporting documentation that I have shared with many others while trying to gain support and assistance for us and other children and women in similar traumatic circumstances.

My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years. What I hope is that then I can be part of the discussion about how our experience might be reflective of other government practices in broader gender contexts and social justice issues and what would constitute “an accountable and progressive Parliament – a Parliament with economic fairness, social justice and environment at its core” in relation to these issues.

These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable, knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar social justice issues.

Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ethics ....

* * *



Dr Simon Longstaff
Executive Director
St James Ethics Centre
PO Box 3599,
Sydney, New South Wales 2001

Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Sir,

Further to my letter and information mailed to you 13th November 2007 regarding Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse I am once again contacting you to beg for immediate assistance, advocacy and support for my children and myself and all other children and women in similar traumatic situations. I was assured by your staff person Anne Short at the end of November 2007 that although you were very busy at that time you would contact me in the next month or two, unfortunately there had not been any further communication.

In the meantime I have continued as best I could to try and find someone who cares about these issues and will assist us (see letters posted to the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com and enclosed letters).

I am extremely confused and concerned by my lack of success. Is it how I am communicating or what I am communicating? Why are some issues and individuals afforded immediate government assistance and others ignored? Not only does the current government seem to show more concern and compassion for whales than innocent and vulnerable children and women, but during their short term in office have assisted and intervened on behalf of Australians who boarded Japanese ships to protest against whale hunting, the “Bali Nine” and Schapelle Corby in prison transfer negotiations, an Australian woman who chose to undertake a dangerous ice trek across Greenland and needed emergency evacuation, Australians arrested while protesting against and trying to prevent the seal hunt (slaughter) off the east coast of Canada, an illegal immigrant wanted in their home country China on corruption charges, an Australian man jailed in India for supposedly crossing the border illegally – and those are just the cases that I know about from the media. Meanwhile the government ignores my information or insists it has no ability or responsibility to assist us and continues to ignore Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse and not use any of the information I have shared to protect our citizens and prevent this happening to other Australians!

From my experience there would seem to be an enormous ethical gap between what is said and what in relation to violence against children and women and gender equity and human rights issues. (See enclosed letters Prime Minister, GetUp, National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, Australian Social Inclusion Board, Australian 2020 Summit applications and related letters, and media releases) How is this reflective of government and organisational policy and practice in relation to other gender specific human rights and social justice issues?


This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance or protection for us. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.

My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years.

These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar unethical experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to and participate in educational and decision making processes that would see gender equity, social justice and human rights issues dealt with in a more ethical, accessible, sustainable and solution oriented manner.

Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,




* * *

Role and responsibility of the Australian Government Office for Women ...

Faxed to #02-6212-9572, and mailed Thursday 12th June 2008, (Express guaranteed next day delivery #BN3448044) with supporting information. No response as yet.

* * *




Julia Burns
Executive Director
Australian Government Office for Women
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610

Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Ms Burns,

I am contacting your office again in regards to the desperate and traumatic situation of Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. Despite many years of begging for assistance from politicians, academics, researchers, women’s and human rights advocates and organisations I have not been successful in finding anyone willing and available to assist us (see www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com the online resource I created in the form of a blog).

Is the creation of the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children an opportunity for you and your department to work with the council to provide immediate assistance and advocacy and ensure safety, security and support for these innocent and vulnerable Australians? When no one else has the integrity or political will to speak up for Australian children and women who have not only experienced the trauma of domestic violence but are additionally traumatised by being trapped far from safety and family in a country that finds violence against immigrant women and their children acceptable, will you and the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children work together with us to ensure we receive safety and justice and the immediate assistance, protection and advocacy we have needed and deserved for many years?

This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance or protection for us. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.

These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to safety, security, support and sustainable futures for all children and women. I would be happy to become a member of the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children and any other body that contributes to effective, practical, timely solutions to the health, governance, economic, well-being and sustainability challenges of our country, our region and our shared planet.

Sincerely,



* * *

Office for Women- National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women And Children, Terms of Reference www.ofw.facs.gov/au/womens_safety_agenda/national_council_reduce_violence

Dear Mr Prime Minister ...

Emailed to Prime Minister via website Thursday 19th June (received confirmation email response) and posted with additional supporting information Friday 20th June 2008. No response as yet


* * *


The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600


Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Sir,

Further to my letter and extensive supporting documentation, mailed 20th December, 2007, (express guaranteed next day delivery #SN4433932) to which I have not yet received a response I am again contacting you to beg for your concern, compassion and assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.

For further information please consult the extensive documentation forwarded to yourself, Tanya Plibersek MP (via Senator Joseph Ludwig) and Maxine McKew MP and the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com .

In the hope of finding support and assistance I have also contacted members of the newly created National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (see enclosed letter and dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process to Develop a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships.” mailed on Tuesday 3rd June 2008) but unfortunately have not as yet received a response from any council member.

In your “Remarks to Inaugural Meeting of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” 4th June 2008 you assert that “The nation, in my view, the nation and the community, must adopt a zero tolerance attitude to violence against women and violence against children. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. That’s where we have to be as a nation, that’s were we have to be as a community.” You go on to state “The purpose is really good public policy. It rests in some very decent Australian values. Values of fairness. And if we can’t provide fairness to women and children who are under the threat of violence, then frankly we need to try a lot harder.”

As a mother, with much love and concern for my children, but without the safety, power, privilege, resources and opportunity of a prime minister, I can only once again beg for you to exemplify the attitude and beliefs quoted above in immediate intervention on our behalf and for all Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial, and assistance to provide us with the safety, security and support we need and deserve.

Sincerely,

* * *

“Remarks to Inaugural Meeting if the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children”, 04 June 2008 www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0285.cfm


See post “National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children …” for links to other related media releases and information.

Mary Crawford ... Gender and the Australian Parliament

* * *


Mary Crawford
Queensland University of Technology



Re: Gender and the Australian Parliament & Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Ms Crawford,

Thank you for the interest you expressed in receiving information further to my recent phone call regarding the connection between your work on Gender and the Australian Parliament and my personal issue of how to gain assistance, advocacy and support for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.

I am continually amazed and horrified at my experience of how these power and patriarchy realities affect the “ethical gap” between what is said and what is done in regards to issues such as human rights, equity, and violence that disproportionately affect children and women and the difficulty/seeming impossibility of creating, facilitating and enabling change.

The online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com contains information about some of my efforts on our behalf (see posts “The Perils of Indifference … ”, “Waiting and hoping …”, “ Further out of view … further out of mind ….”, “Letter to our new prime minister …” , “Dear Mr Prime Minister …” and “When women won the vote what was the prize?” )

The following letters to the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (mailed Tuesday, 3rd May, 2008 with dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Developing a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships” – no response from any council members) and Julia Burns, Executive Director, Office for Women, reflect the “trickle down” effect of power and patriarchy’s resistance to real and meaningful change and my experience of how these gender specific issues are “seen” to be dealt with, when the reality is quiet different and many people are involved in “keeping the secret” of these unethical inequities and human rights abuses.

Any assistance, support or advocacy would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
….

* * *
To read Mary's Online Opinion article "Gender and the Australian Parliament
www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5808
* * *


It meant so much to me that yesterday morning, Monday 30th June, Mary phoned and left me a message saying she had received my fax and material I had mailed to her and although she was very busy with her PhD work and some upcoming conferences she would be getting in contact with me in the next few weeks … it really meant a lot that although she was so busy with her own important work she didn’t ignore me or these issues, unlike most people - including those whose job, research, portfolio or political publicity would lead you to believe they are supposedly concerned with issues of violence against children and women.

* * *

Monday, April 21, 2008

Waiting .... hoping ....

The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Deputy Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Ms Gillard,

I understand that the women of the federal Labor Party actively lobbied the Prime Minister to appoint a female as next Governor General. You and your colleges must be very pleased with yesterday’s announcement of Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC as Australia’s first female appointed to this position. Ms Bryce is a gracious, involved and intelligent woman, an excellent choice for the position.

Unfortunately there is a one in millions chance for an Australian female to become Governor General while currently there is a 3-5 in 10 chance of a female in Australia experiencing domestic violence. It would make more difference in the everyday lives of girls and women to address the violence there is a high probability they will experience than to remind them of the opportunities there is little chance they will experience.

What is the benefit to girls and women for women who already have power, privilege, safety and security to receive greater opportunity when the plight of children and women who do not have any power, privilege, safety or security and are experiencing family and domestic violence is ignored?

While many hope that the announcement of any female to such a position will be an example and inspiration for all girls and women that they can do anything they want to and set their minds to, what does it mean to the many women who are unable to persuade anyone to invoke and uphold domestic laws and international human rights agreements to protect their children and themselves from family and domestic violence? For a woman such as myself who has experienced many people, including Dr Peter Jaffe (international expert on child witnesses to domestic abuse, Academic Director, Centre for Research on Violence Against Children and Women, University of Western Ontario and Director Emeritus, Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System) tell me that I have done more than any other mother they know to try and protect my children and they don’t know what else to suggest, then this is other experience of the traumatic and hidden injustices and hypocrisy of our country and our world.

On the same evening news program as Ms Bryce’s appointment announcement we were also informed that sailors on the Sea Shepherd who have been arrested as a result of their activities protesting the seal (slaughter) hunt in Canada subsequently received immediate assistance from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. I first contacted the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs begging for assistance for my children and myself in 1999. Please help me, and all the other Australian children and women trapped in Canada and other countries because of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse understand why we are not eligible for or deserving of any Australian assistance while so many others are?

From the articles and letters I have posted to the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com it can be seen that many people, politicians and organisations have been contacted and begged to provide assistance for all Australian children and women in these traumatic situations - all who from their public statements I had believed found violence against children and women unacceptable. What I have unfortunately and traumatically discovered is that many who say they care about these issues do not feel any moral or ethical obligation to actually do anything! When directly approached to assist children and women who are experiencing the terrible effects of family and domestic violence and subsequent systemic and judicial abuse, they have a myriad of excuses for not getting involved – not doing anything that might provide safety, security and support for these innocent and vulnerable children and women.

Yet these same people and their peers readily demand and hold the government accountable for providing support and “justice” for David Hicks, believe it was appropriate and responsible of the government to spend $10 million rescuing Douglas Woods from Iraq, are urging the government to do more to save the whales from the Japanese whale hunters, find it acceptable for tax-payers dollars to be spent providing consular assistance for Australian paedophiles caught and jailed in Asia, that funding the Bali Nine’s and Schapelle Corby’s legal defence and arranging prisoner exchanges and transfers to Australia for convicted drug traffickers are appropriate uses of Australian public resources as is coordinating with the Canadian government to provide assistance and rescue from Lebanon for Melissa Hawach, her daughters and her hired assistants.

Not only do these people refuse to assist Australian children and women in desperate circumstances but they also refuse to use the information I have shared to protect and prevent other Australian women and their children from the same horrific experiences.

The trauma of this situation led to …. attempting suicide and subsequently being hospitalised, and I still can’t get any assistance or support in Canada or Australia – and am concerned for …. safety and …. who is now the same age and at the same stage of life as … was when … attempted suicide. Currently I have no way of knowing how this has impacted …. From what I know and understand the upcoming Mother’s Day is not only an extremely traumatic and perilous time for me but also for … , especially … who has already attempted suicide once.

My personal perspective of my and others women’s experience of being trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse is that it is a personalised, individualised, to-order, form of sex trafficking – women trying to escape situations of entrapment overseas because of domestic violence face similar challenges to women who are trafficked for the sex industry. We have all been deliberately mislead about the intent or purpose for us travelling to another country, we all experience multiple forms of abuse, when we try and seek assistance from the local authorities in the country we have travelled to under false information and misrepresentation of the intent and circumstances involved we are not given the support or assistance that that country’s laws and international laws would supposedly guarantee, many are too embarrassed or too afraid to tell their families what is really going on and many of us feel the only way to escape is to commit suicide. One big difference is that somehow many people see this as being acceptable and legal when individual males treat individual females that they have married in this way. Apparently marriage makes it acceptable.

The more I share information about our situations, the more I learn about the systems that are supposed to provide justice and democracy the more I become confused and concerned … for example, I applied to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit and had contacted Tim Costello to ask for his support. My application was rejected; Tim Costello’s response ignored the social exclusion issues of violence against children and women.

There are other people I had contacted over the years who have been selected to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit that despite the information I have shared with them are not available to speak up about these human rights abuses, are not available to speak up for Australian children and women, are not available to use the knowledge they have and the opportunities they have to make a difference for those less privileged and less safe than themselves. What benefit is it to women and girls to have 51% female participation in the Australia 2020 Summit discussions if the issue of violence against women – which will affect between 30- 50 % of females in their life time – will not be addressed? What was the criterion for being chosen to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit and why, when it appears that no one else will speak up about violence against children and women was my application rejected?

Doing nothing deliberately endangers not only my children and myself and the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource/blog but all Australian children and women who have or will experience domestic violence - whereas immediate action can protect us, prevent similar traumatic experiences and provide a message of inspiration, hope, equity, justice and respect for all girls and women.

Please find enclosed a DVD “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Making a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships”, which … and I were both involved in producing. If you require I can also provide you with copies of my c.v., references regarding my domestic violence advocacy and education work, letters from professionals (doctor, social worker with domestic violence advocacy program, counsellor, pre-schoolteacher) expressing their concern about the … Justice Department employee misrepresenting their information and concerns about my children’s and my safety and experience of domestic violence and other documentation. The Prime Minister has also received extensive documentation in regards to these circumstances, which you could ask him to share with you if you are interested.

I am extremely concerned for my children’s safety, my safety, the safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource who are also trapped in Canada because of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.

Any advocacy, assistance, support or advice that would address these issues and bring us to safety while protecting our identity and privacy would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,


* *


Accompanying copy of Australia 2020 Summit Submission …

Australia 2020 Summit Submission
Submitted for both the Social Inclusion and Governance Working Groups

(As my application to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit was rejected, and some of the people who have been accepted to participate include people I have asked to speak up for children and women who have experienced domestic violence and for whatever reason are not available to do so, I am curious to see if my submission will be accepted or rejected. I am still available to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit to bring my experience, knowledge, ethics and solutions to this process on behalf of the millions of Australian children and women who have experienced domestic and family violence and whom no-one else seems to be available to speak and advocate for in public for real change, for safety, security, support and human rights.)

Submission

Ethical & economic responsibility (Noel Pearson “Understanding Ethics” “Ethics & Political Practice” “Ethics Public for the Sector”)

Responsible & credible government accounting - General Progress Indicator, Index of Social & Economic Welfare “more reliably measure economic progress, … distinguishes between worthwhile growth & economic growth” (wikipedia - information & references) GDP calculates Dr Patel crisis economically beneficial! Trial comparative accounting period?

Government priorities - $10 million rescue Douglas Woods from Iraq, consular assistance & legal funding Corby, “Bali Nine”, consular assistance Australian paedophiles arrested Asia, lobbying & $500,000 flight David Hicks – Australian children & women trapped overseas by domestic violence & systemic & judicial abuse ignored. Australian values? Economically responsible? Equity & social inclusion for children & women? Other situations we don’t talk/hear about?

“Nothing about us without us” include “experts by experience” in decision-making. Currently “ethical gap” between rhetoric & reality, researchers have vested interest in research, politicians in re-election, “experts by experience” in change so nobody experiences problems they experienced (listen to any “victim”, Tim Costello “Streets of Hope”, Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”.)

Misnomer “government funding” v “public funding”-language, ownership & outcomes - affect on social research? Who benefits? Bias & influence?

“Watchdogs” HREOC, Ombudsman, separate from other government departments, more citizen involvement/access; FOI access, “whistleblower” support & assistance = prevention/risk-management. (“Bega Butcher”, DoCs NSW - those with power/“experts” weren’t “whistleblowers”.)

Micro credit for self-sufficiency/self-determination - Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”

Sustainability - www.sustainabilityadvantage.com

Community based social marketing for local solutions www.cbsm.com

Enable cross-sectoral partnerships - community, government, business.

Implement signed international human-rights instruments.

Economics & Rule of Law – “The Economist” March 15th 2008 p83-85

Justice - Margaret Cunneen “Ninian Stephen Lecture”

Management - Jim Collins, “Good to Great” & “Good to Great & the Social Sectors” Random House



“Recognising our responsibility & opportunity for creating our reality is the only way I see for making the shift from fear to love – from a world of scarcity & greed to one of abundance in which all people are empowered to fulfil their needs in sustainable ways. … we must break through long cultural conditioning on our lack of power, our willingness to accept, & thus co-create, economic & political inequities that disempower people, currency systems that promote these inequities & anything else preventing the full expression of human potential in sustainable ways.”

Margaret Somerville, Australian ethicist, quoting Elisabet Sahtouris in “The Ethical Imagination” Anansi Press 2006 (p 238-239)


“We don’t need new technologies to solve our problems; while new
technologies can make some contributions, for the most part we “just”
need the political will to apply solutions already available. Of course
that’s a big “just.” But … modern societies have already found the will to
solve some of our problems, and to achieve partial solutions to others.”

Jared Diamond, “Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive.”
Penguin Books 2005, P 522


“It is hardly a moral act to encourage others patiently to accept injustice which he himself does not endure”.
Martin Luther King


* *


Mailed Monday 14th April 2008 (guaranteed next day delivery) to Julia Gillard, Maxine McKew, Natasha Stott-Despoja and Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce, AC.

Waiting for a response … hoping for some care, concern, support and justice before Mother’s Day for Australian mothers and their children trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse …

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Australia 2020 Summit Submission ...

Greetings,

As my application to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit was rejected I have sent in a written submission (see below). I wait to see if this will be accepted or rejected as well.


· Ethical responsibility (Noel Pearson “Understanding Ethics” “Ethics & Political Practice” “Ethics Public for the Sector”)

· Responsible & credible government accounting - General Progress Indicator, Index of Social & Economic Welfare “more reliably measure economic progress … distinguishes between worthwhile growth & economic growth” (wikipedia – information, references) GDP calculates Dr Patel crisis economically beneficial! Trial comparative accounting period?

· Government priorities - $10 million rescue Douglas Woods from Iraq, consular assistance & legal funding Corby, “Bali Nine”, consular assistance Australian paedophiles arrested Asia, lobbying & $500,000 flight David Hicks – Australian children & women trapped overseas by domestic violence & systemic & judicial abuse ignored. Australian values? Economically responsible? Equity & social inclusion for children & women? Other situations we don’t talk/hear about?

· “Nothing about us without us” include “experts by experience” in decision-making. Currently “ethical gap” between rhetoric & reality, researchers have vested interest in research, politicians in re-election, “experts by experience” in change so nobody experiences problems they experienced (listen to any “victim”, Tim Costello “Streets of Hope”, Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”.)

· Misnomer “government funding” v “public funding” language, ownership & outcomes - affect on social research? Who benefits? Bias & influence?

· “Watchdogs” HREOC, Ombudsman, separate from other government departments, more citizen involvement/access; FOI access, “whistleblower” support & assistance = prevention/risk-management. (“Bega Butcher”, DoCs NSW - those with power/“experts” weren’t “whistleblowers”.)

· Micro credit for self-sufficiency/self-determination, Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”

· Justice, Margaret Cunneen “Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture”

· Economics & Rule of Law “The Economist” March 15th 2008 p83-85

· Sustainability, www.sustainabilityadvantage.com

· Community-based social-marketing for local solutions, www.cbsm.com

· Implement signed international human-rights instruments

· Enable cross-sectoral partnerships community, government, business.

Management - Jim Collins "Good to Great" & "Good to Great and the Social Sectors"


“Recognising our responsibility & opportunity for creating our reality is the only way I see for making the shift from fear to love – from a world of scarcity & greed to one of abundance in which all people are empowered to fulfil their needs in sustainable ways. … we must break through long cultural conditioning on our lack of power, our willingness to accept, & thus co-create, economic & political inequities that disempower people, currency systems that promote these inequities & anything else preventing the full expression of human potential in sustainable ways.”
Margaret Somerville, Australian ethicist, quoting Elisabet Sahtouris in “The Ethical Imagination” Anansi Press 2006 (p 238-239)



“We don’t need new technologies to solve our problems; while new
technologies can make some contributions, for the most part we “just”
need the political will to apply solutions already available. Of course
that’s a big “just.” … modern societies have already found the will to
solve some of our problems, and to achieve partial solutions to others.”

Jared Diamond, “Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive.”
Penguin Books 2005, P 522


“It is hardly a moral act to encourage others patiently to accept injustice which he himself does not endure”.

Martin Luther King





Take care .... take heart ..... Merinda

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection in New South Wales

Justice James Wood
Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW
PO Box K1026
Haymarket NSW 1240

Re: Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in New South Wales

Dear Sir,

Today I listened to our current prime minister, Kevin Rudd, and federal opposition leader, Brendan Nelson, apologise and say "sorry" for the pain and suffering experienced by all those affected by the actions that resulted in the "stolen generation". Both Mr Rudd and Mr Nelson challenged all non-indigenous Australians to consider how we might feel "if this had happened to us" and to "place ourselves in the shoes of others". Our Prime Minister quoted a woman who wanted us all to hear her message, via Mr Rudd in his address, that "all mothers are important" and "it is a good thing that you are surrounded by love". And I wondered had we really learnt anything from the "stolen generation" experiences.

What will the children of this generation say about their need for protection and how those who are the law-makers, budget-makers, decision-makers and influencers of today responded to "the responsibilities and the opportunities" of child protection currently facing us? What will the adults of tomorrow wish we had done for the children of today – what would they wish had been the outcome of the "Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection in New South Wales"?

I am contacting you to ask for assistance to bring my experiential knowledge, reading, research, reflections and suggestions to the Special Commission of Inquiry based on my hope and belief in your comments (quoted below) that you shared in your opening address to the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in New South Wales, at the public hearing held on Monday, 17th December, 2007.

"Its validity, and that of any alternative approach to child protection is open for consideration, and we would not want submissions to be constrained to tinkering at the edges of the current system, or to overlook the means by which families in trouble could be supported and assisted so as to avoid becoming subject to the need for care and protection, and in particular falling into the cycle of inter-generational abuse and neglect that can so easily become intractable."

"What we are about is examining management practices and possible strategies that could achieve a co-ordinated, compassionate and effective system that brings together the combined skills of the several agencies and individuals that potentially play a part in the Child Protection System."

"That would be to ignore the environment in which it must work, and of the responsibilities and the opportunities of the other agencies and individuals who are involved."

What I hope you will understand is that there is no pleasure or gratification in asking to share what I have learnt through my children’s and my traumatic experience of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse from many - individuals, organisations, academics, service providers, politicians, so called "justice systems", lawyers, police … and coming from my children’s and my experience of being some of the many Australian children and mother trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. What I hope for is change, and to protect and prevent others from similar experiences.

My … attempted suicide, my … is now the same age and at the same stage of life as … was when … attempted suicide and I still can’t find any one who will assist in providing safety, security and support my children and myself or any children and mothers in similar traumatic circumstances.

Here are some of my questions, concerns and hopes regarding the inquiry:

  • I am concerned that all details of my communication, information and submission that could in any way be identifying remain confidential, and at the same time hope that the systemic issues I raise will become public knowledge because I believe they should be of public concern.
  • Confidentiality is important for safety and security, is there any assistance that would make it safe for me to relate the reality of women who try to protect their children from domestic violence and systemic abuse by providing safety and security for my children, the other Australian woman and her children who are mentioned in my online resource/blog (see www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com post "Dear Mr Prime Minister …") my possessions and documents - all in Canada - while I am trying to sustain myself and find someone here who will work with me on these family and domestic violence and human rights issues.
  • Are there resources available to assist people such as myself who are not employed by someone who will cover their expenses (i.e. government, university, organisations) who have used their family’s personal traumatic lived reality of needing protection to try to make a difference and be an advocate (please refer to accompanying c.d. which contains my c.v., enclosed references and online resource I created) to attend the forums to be held in Sydney? The forums I am particularly interested in are "Role of Courts", "Role of oversight agencies", "Interagency co-operation", "Health and disability", "Assessment model and process", "Early intervention". Or is there some other accommodation being made to facilitate the involvement of, and information sharing with, people in rural and regional NSW in those forums?
  • Are there resources available to assist people such as myself, "experts by experience", to prepare a submission? The resources/assistance that would make a difference for me include safety, security, support, encouragement, mentorship and coaching, assistance with materials and copying expenses, assistance to attend forums of interest and relevance to experience and research that are only being held in Sydney, assistance to obtain a wireless internet connection. For others there may be other accommodation requirements including child or family care and transportation. Because of the reality of my experience trying to gain safety and protection for my children and what I have learnt about "unruly practise" (Nancy Fraser) – the gap between what is said and what is done – then I am confident there is much to be gained from listening to and communicating with "experts by experience" such as myself and other desperate mothers which you will not hear from the organisations most directly involved. (A bit like the Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service, where you knew the important information would not be revealed by those being directly investigated in the usual inquiry process.)
  • …. is the nearest regional forum to … where I have been staying with my parents who have emotionally and financially supported me for just over a year while I try and find someone in Australia who will actually do something to assist and protect Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. I understand from my telephone conversation with Julie W at the Special Commission of Inquiry office there will not be any "in camera" forums in regional or rural New South Wales, is there a provision for people from rural and regional NSW to give "in camera" testimony or information to the Special Commission of Inquiry?
  • If anyone else submits material to the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection in NSW, which in any way refers to, relates to, mentions or contains any of the accompanying information or material, or material and information I hope to share with you in the future, then they have done so without my knowledge or permission and without any care or concern for our safety and security, never having made any offers of assistance or support, and not having offered to assist me to bring my own material to the Special Commission of Inquiry. I hope that you will immediately inform me of this deliberate, unethical breach of confidentiality, disregard for our safety, and misuse of my intellectual property. I have already experienced this unethical behaviour from researchers and academics in regards to my writing and research both here and in Canada. The most recent incident involving the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse. I would like to have an opportunity to share the details of these experiences with you to give you an understanding of the realities of the family and domestic violence industry where there are many who chose to personally profit from others pain, without making any contribution to the safety and security of others less fortunate, privileged or safe. (See post "Further out of view … further out of mind…" on my online resource/blog.) There are many who see research and advocacy as mutually exclusive occupations – they are happy to acquire personal currency and status from their work as a researcher/academic/expert -retelling others "stories"- as long as there is no expectation that they actually do anything that might make a difference (many parallels to other forms of power and control, such as the abusive homes mothers are trying to protect their children from, and colonisation such as our indigenous people experienced).
  • I hope for the opportunity and safety to share what I wish I didn’t know about the political reality in regards to children and mothers right to safety and security including in relation to recent changes to the Family Law Act. Was the chairperson chosen because of, or despite, the knowledge that she had not assisted and kept secret the experience of someone who grew up in her electorate who needed assistance to protect her children and herself from domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse in a foreign jurisdiction that the federal government chose to provide financial assistance to, but held the government accountable to "judicial fairness" for David Hicks? Why does no one comment on the fact that while the government is choosing to finance foreign jurisdictions that condone violence against children and women it is cutting funding to organisations here that oppose violence against children and women?
  • What are the implications for child protection when researchers/academics state, "female politicians will not speak up about these issues (violence against children and women) for fear of male backlash" in private conversations but not in public?
  • I would like to share my concerns in regards to problematically misnamed "government funding" (versus "public funding") and the consequences for research topics, outcomes, and accountability to the public – the real funders.

What I am hoping for is the opportunity and support to share my information (my experiential knowledge, extensive reading, research and reflections) in regards to the above and other systemic issues and realities on our and others behalf in regards to children’s, mother’s and family safety and protection, hoping that our experience and my suggestions may contribute to an understanding of "the environment in which it must work, and of the responsibilities and the opportunities of the other agencies and individuals who are involved" in child protection, in the context of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection in New South Wales.

I also hope that this might lead to contact with someone here in Australia with the integrity and ability to assist Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse and those who have suffered similar experiences here, assistance applying for a Churchill Fellowship to pursue related research, leadership training or mentoring opportunities and the opportunity to contribute to the Australia 2020 Summit, in the hope that my children, myself and others who have experienced abuse, violence and trauma may soon experience protection, safety, security, support – may experience hope.

Sincerely,

"We don’t need new technologies to solve our problems; while new
technologies can make some contributions, for the most part we "just"
need the political will to apply solutions already available. Of course
that’s a big "just." But many societies did find the necessary political
will in the past. Our modern societies have already found the will to
solve some of our problems, and to achieve partial solutions to others."

Jared Diamond, "Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive."
Penguin Books ã 2005, P 522
* *

Mailed Thursday, 14th February 2008, (guaranteed next day delivery). As yet, no response.

* *

Take care … take heart … Merinda

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Letter to our new prime minister ....

The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600



Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse

Dear Sir,

Please accept my congratulations on the prompt attention to the human rights violations experienced by asylum seekers resulting in the announcement that Burmese detainees on Nauru will be safely in Australia for Christmas this year. You have shown you also care about the challenges of climate change and the fate of whales and have been seen to respond with resources and actions that show congruence and integrity as a leader.

I look forward to the human rights abuses experienced by Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse being dealt with in the same prompt manner with the same commitment of resources and action.

What I wish is that these innocent and vulnerable Australian children and women could get the same humanitarian care and response so that they, like the many others I have begged for assistance since 1999, could be enjoying safety and sunshine with their families in Australian this Christmas season.

Extensive information and documentation regarding this situation has been shared with many, including
Attorney- General’s office
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian Consulate, Ottawa, Canada
Ombudsman’s office
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
and those mentioned in the accompanying material

I have also contacted the offices of .... but it seems that Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse “fall through the cracks” and are no-ones responsibility or concern.

Documentation shared with the Attorney-General’s office and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since 1999 includes letters from professionals (doctor, social worker with domestic violence support group, counsellor, pre-school teacher) expressing their concern for my children’s and my safety and expressing concern that the provincial Justice Department’s employee who conducted the Custody and Access Assessment misrepresented the information they shared with him regarding their concerns and our experience of domestic violence. You will have ready access to all that material and the information shared with those mentioned above.

In light of the recent assertions that you will not tolerate violence against children and women, that you expect ministerial accountability and that having a female deputy prime minister (and for a short period of time acting prime minister) is a historic and significant occurrence and opportunity for encouragement for all girls and women I continue to be traumatised by the lack of response or assistance for my children and myself and the other Australian children and women in similar circumstances.

Considering the traumatic and life threatening impact this situation had on my children and myself, and undoubtable on other Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse I look forward to being informed of your response to this information.

Sincerely,


Mailed (guaranteed next day delivery) 20th December 2007, as yet no response.