25 November 2022
November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 – giving millions of Australian workers 10 days’ paid family and domestic leave – was enshrined in law late last month, the result of years of tireless advocacy and campaigning by the ANMF (SA Branch), the ANMF nationally - as well as the ACTU and the broader union movement - on behalf of our predominantly female workforce.
“This landmark piece of legislation is long overdue and will literally help to save lives,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
“Economic insecurity is a key reason why so many women are unable to escape an abusive relationship and entitlement to paid leave will help to address that.’’
The sad reality is a woman is killed every week in Australia by a partner or family member.
Globally, more than 1 in 3 women experience gender-based physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is a UN-sponsored campaign to launch 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, concluding on December 10 - a day that commemorates International Human Rights Day.
For more about the campaign, click
here.
Australian Unions has also released a special five-minute documentary showing how the power of the union movement helped bring about 10-days’ paid family and domestic violence leave. Watch it
here.
To read the ANMF Position Statement on Domestic and family violence click
here.