DVNSW works to improve the spectrum of policy, legislative and program responses to domestic and family violence (DFV) and to eliminate DFV through leadership in advocacy, partnerships and promotion of good practice.
- DVNSW is a feminist, social justice organisation. We recognise that DFV is serious, prevalent and driven by gender inequality. DFV is a fundamental violation of human rights, a public health issue and a crime.
- DFV is inclusive of any behaviour, in an intimate or family relationship, which is violent, threatening, coercive or controlling, causing a person to live in fear. It is usually manifested as part of a pattern of controlling or coercive behaviour.
- DFV occurs in all types of personal or family relationships or intimate partnerships and care arrangements. The primary victim-survivors are women and their children.
- DVNSW supports the evidence outlined in Our Watch’s Change the Story; that gender inequality creates the necessary social context for the gendered drivers of DFV and that DFV is preventable when communities and sectors work together with a shared vision and collective action.
| Drivers of violence against women | Essential actions to prevent violence against women |
|---|---|
| Condoning violence against women | Challenge condoning of violence against women |
| Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s decision-making and independence in public and private life | Promote women’s independence and decision making in public life and relationships |
| Rigid gender roles and stereotyped constructions of masculinity and femininity | Foster positive personal identities and challenge gender stereotypes and roles |
| Male peer relations that emphasise aggression and disrespect towards women | Strengthen positive, equal and respectful relations between and among women and men, girls and boys |
- Ending DFV requires mutually reinforcing actions across society. Actions should be tailored to the context and needs of different groups, be enacted for public and private settings, and be led by governments, organisations, and individuals.
- DFV requires a comprehensive and integrated professional responses that places those affected by domestic and family violence at the centre of the response, prioritises their safety, and enhances their ability to make informed decisions.
- DFV responses require a commitment and understanding of access and equality, diversity and inclusion, and their intersectionality.