By Yvette Berry MLA, ACT Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.
COVID-19 has caused a dramatic change to the way many of us go about our daily lives.
This year has also further highlighted the inequalities within the workplace:
- Women have been more likely to take on extra caring responsibilities
- Most early childhood educators and healthcare workers are women
- Women are also more likely to work in insecure positions that may have been lost during the pandemic
All of these things cause immense stress within households and families that can end up being dangerous for women.
Working from home arrangements or requirements can mean that women aren’t able to get away from their abuser and are out of sight from colleagues and loved ones.
In times of crisis especially, it is so important for the community to stick together and look out for one another.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an opportunity to bring these issues into the forefront and to get people thinking about how, as a community, we can reduce and ultimately eliminate domestic violence and violence against women.
Every year this is important. This year it’s even more important.
During the 16 Days of Activism against gendered violence (25 November – 10 December) there is a lot more public activity, but the ACT Government is focused on these 365 days.
