By Anthony Brown
BRISBANE — One in 10 Australian families experiences chronic domestic violence. An estimated 76% of rapists are partners, ex-partners or close friends of their victims or known by them.
One in five women admitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital's emergency department is a victim of domestic violence.
White Ribbon Week, September 3-10, focused on men's violence in the family.
Organised annually by Men Against Sexual Assault (MASA), White Ribbon Week aims to encourage men to take a stand against violence and to challenge societal attitudes about violent behaviour being acceptable.
Brisbane MASA formed in 1991 after the rape at gunpoint of a student at the University of Queensland.
Here the week started with a rally at the Roma Street Forum, followed by a march to Musgrave Park in West End for a festival.
Speakers included Andrew Bartlett representing MASA's national patron, Senator John Woodley of the Australian Democrats; ACTU Queensland executive officer John Dwyer; Queensland state member Peter Pyke; the coordinator of community education from Brisbane's Domestic Violence Resource Centre, Liz Jeffs; and Brisbane city councillor and Brisbane MASA patron Mark Bailey.
Spokesperson Ben Pennings said MASA organised the timing of this year's week to coincide with Father's Day. The theme was designed to highlight the high incidence of violence many Australian families experienced.
"Ninety-five per cent of all domestic violence in Australia is perpetrated by men. Men are responsible for rape in marriage, incest (one in four Australian girls are sexually assaulted before the age of 18, usually by a family member), and spousal homicide (42% of all female murder victims in Australia in 1990-1991 were killed by their husbands)", Pennings said.
"White Ribbon Week is not about male bashing. The link between men and violence is the product of society and history, not biology.
"Although not all men are violent, all men are responsible for ending men's violence. This is what the week is about: men taking a stand against violence and saying that it has to stop."