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!
Monday, June 30, 2008
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.
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.
* * *
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,
…
…
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,
…
* * *
…
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
* * *
…
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.
* * *
…
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.
* * *
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
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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.
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