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