When research shows that violence against women is extremely common, and that young women are particularly vulnerable, violence prevention becomes a matter of national importance. So why has the Australian government indefinitely halted an innovative national violence prevention campaign for young people that it has already spent millions of dollars in developing?
Many young people are the victims of abuse in their relationships. Australian Bureau of Statistics research in 1996 revealed that 23% of adult women have experienced violence from a current or ex-partner. A survey of 5000 young people, undertaken by the National Crime Prevention Program in 2001, found that around 22% of 12-20 year old females and 5% of males could be classified as victims of "dating violence"; and that some 14% of females had experienced a boyfriend's attempt to force them to have sex.
The recent spate of allegations against footballers of sexual assault highlights the urgent need for governments to take the lead and educate the community about the meaning of respectful relationships.
The federal government's $12 million national No Respect, No Relationship campaign, targeted at 16-24 year olds, was to be launched in December 2003. It was developed to explain what abuse in a relationship looks like, and what to do about it. Crucially, it was to have taught young men about the importance of showing women respect.
The planned campaign included TV and print advertisements, radio and sporting events, forums featuring visiting experts in relationship violence, materials for schools and a comprehensive website. The campaign was also designed to educate concerned adults — parents, teachers and sports coaches — on how they can support young people to have non-abusive relationships. Indigenous and non-English-speaking communities were to be provided with material specifically developed for their needs.
Just 10 days before the launch of this multifaceted campaign it was brought to a halt by the government, without explanation. At least $2.7 million had already been spent.
This campaign strategy was based on years of planning by the Office of the Status of Women, and two years of research with young people and adults. It had been approved at every step by the Ministerial Committee of Government Communications.
According to Labor MP Nicola Roxon, the government's last-minute decision to stop the campaign was made by a small committee comprising the prime minister's secretary and three other male MPs. These politicians are hardly experts in the violence prevention field, and it is amazing that their preferences have been able to override years of research and practical expertise in the area of effective violence prevention.
In media interviews, the minister assisting the prime minister on the status of women, Kay Patterson, has been unable or unwilling to provide a reason for the campaign's delay.
When asked about the government's decision in parliament's question time, PM John Howard said the campaign advertisements were "inappropriate" as they referred young people to a website. He said that instead, victims of sexual assault should be told to go to the police.
This is a very simplistic view about sexual assault. In 1996, a national Women's Safety survey found that only 10% of women who had been sexually assaulted reported the attack to police. Fear of retribution, shame, uncertainty of what constitutes sexual assault and the perception that police will not be helpful mean that most victims do not report this form of violence.
In any event, the national campaign had been designed to prevent violence — by helping young people to understand respectful relationships and to recognise warning signs of emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
If the government wants to improve the campaign, it could provide increased funding to enable existing domestic violence and sexual assault services to respond to victims. These services are already over-stretched and unable to respond to the demand that is placed on them.
Does the halting of this campaign reflect a reluctance by senior government figures to recognise that domestic violence and sexual assault are crimes mostly directed at women?
Research has repeatedly found that most (but not all) violence in relationships is committed by men, and the campaign has been developed to respond to this reality.
The campaign's advertisements used examples of four men's attitudes towards women. These advertisements were tested with groups of young men and women, who reported that the scenarios were realistic and the messages about respect were effective.
Young men say they are interested in hearing about ways of improving their relationships, and want clear information about what's okay and what's not. However, our government seems unwilling to give them this information, due to the out-of-date views of a few ministers.
When national research reveals that 38% of the adult female population have experienced these forms of violence, governments must take a lead in violence prevention. Millions of dollars of public money have already been spent on developing what promised to be a very effective anti-violence campaign. Now, it may never see the light of day.
Is the Australian government afraid to encourage young women to expect respect in their relationships?
Mandy McKenzie
[The author works at the Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre in Melbourne.]
From Green Left Weekly, May 5, 2004.
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