Domestic Violence Homicide Review

We have called for the urgent establishment of a Domestic Violence Homicide Review since 2006 as a way of identifying where the system fails to keep women and children safe.

In response to the recent domestic violence related deaths on NSW far south coast an Open Letter was sent to politicians and policy officers who regularly contact the DV Coalition:

The Urgent Need to Establish a Domestic Violence Homicide Review Board in NSW

I am writing this open letter to all politicians who are in regular contact and consultation with the NSW Domestic Violence Committee Coalition.

The distressing and tragic circumstances of the latest domestic violence related murders in New South Wales (NSW) have generated intense media coverage.

Critical questions have been raised not only in the community of Pericoe, but the wider community of NSW as we all grapple with understanding how such an incident could happen.

It is concerning that the story emerging from family members is that there was a strong history of domestic violence, and that the family was known to various government agencies, most significantly to both the Department of Community Services and the NSW Police.

As the community and agencies involved grapple to understand ‘what went wrong’ we need to ensure that this process of examination does not descend into an exercise that is intent on blame and finger pointing. The problem with a blame approach, is that it often generates a response that is focused on covering up and/or hiding the facts as people and agencies seek to avoid punishment. Instead what is needed is an open and transparent review of agencies’ processes and responses, so that agencies can amend their practice so that such incidents become less frequent. It is only with such an open and transparent examination that real and effective change can be achieved.

The NSW Domestic Violence Coalition was formed in March 2006 in response to the increasing incidence of domestic violence related women and children’s deaths. Since that time the Coalition has consistently advocated for the urgent establishment of a Domestic Violence Homicide Review Board.

The NSW Ombudsman in its report Domestic Violence: Improving Police Practice released in 2007 recommended the establishment of a Domestic Violence Homicide Review Board.

The NSW Domestic Violence Coalition believes women and children’s deaths through domestic violence are preventable.

A Domestic Violence Homicide Review undertakes an in-depth analysis of the circumstances leading up to a domestic violence-related death by a team of professionals. It is not a process that engages in blaming but is a process that would assist us in learning where the system fails in keeping women and children safe and what must change.

On behalf of the NSW Domestic Violence Committee Coalition I urge you all to consider working together collaboratively in establishing a best practice based Domestic Violence Homicide Review Board in New South Wales. A Domestic Violence Homicide Review Board that is fully independent, located in the NSW Ombudsman and underpinned by legislation, fully and properly resourced and reporting annually to Parliament is required.

Further, a letter to the Editor published in Sydney Morning Herald July 2, 2008

Last year, the NSW Ombudsman recommended the establishment of a domestic violence homicide review board. We believe the deaths of women and children through domestic violence are preventable.
In such reviews, a team of professionals analyses the circumstances of a domestic-violence-related death. This process would help us learn where the system fails. Such boards operate effectively in Britain, Canada and most US states. They have contributed to the reduction of women and children's deaths in domestic violence.

We think up to 16 women were murdered in NSW in the context of domestic violence in 2006-07, and up to 21 this year - accurate statistics are not kept and no one agency is responsible for reporting them.

We agree wholeheartedly with Morris Iemma ("DOCS under scrutiny", June 28) that "we need to know what happened exactly and why". We must know this in every case. We call on the Premier to implement the Ombudsman's recommendation as a matter of urgency. The lives of women and children depend on it.

Betty Green Convener, NSW Domestic Violence Coalition, Sydney

2008 IWD Speech

Many thanks to the IWD Organising Collective for inviting me to speak at this year's 80th Anniversary of Sydney IWD March. The text of the Speech follows....

Firstly I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we are meeting on.

The NSW Domestic Violence Coalition has worked very hard since it formed in March of 2006 in working to place women, women’s policy and domestic violence back on the political and public agenda. The Domestic Violence Committee Coalition is a state wide advocacy body with membership drawn from women’s specialist services, domestic violence services, crisis accommodation and support services, women’s health centres, government and non-government sector workers, academics, researchers, activists and advocates.

We made a call in June of 2006, on the steps of Sydney Town Hall that the State government review, reform and reinvest in policy and resources addressing women, domestic violence and violence against women in New South Wales.

We make the same call today and what better day to make that call than on International Women’s Day.

The United Nations Theme for 2008 is “Investing in Women and Girls”

I am sure that any one of our distinguished guests today could draw our attention to the many programs and policies and amounts of money that are being expended investing in women and girls. And rightly so

But I would also hasten to add that in many areas that investment did not come easy and women have always had to fight hard to get their share.

It should not be that way

A feminist sister recently commented on the endless struggle women seem to have to engage by saying “why does it have to be so hard?” In the area of domestic violence, sexual assault, violence against women much of the gains have come at a cost- to women.

We know the statistics, we quote them constantly

We hear the stories of the women we work with whose lives have been traumatized as a result of the violence they have suffered from the hands of someone who has also said “I love you”

The Investment in Women and Girls that I want to highlight today is the state putting in place the systems and resources that work towards improving women and girls safety

Violence, women’s experiences of violence holds them back from participating to their fullest potential. It is every woman and every girl’s right to live life free from the fear of violence, intimidation and harassment

In the context of domestic violence I am saying

Every system or reform put in place to protect women must not further violate women

When we call for review- we expect to be consulted- respectfully and meaningfully

When we are consulted we expect the expertise we share to be valued

When I speak of investing in women and girls I am speaking about properly resourcing services

We have been calling for the proper resourcing of women’s specialist domestic violence services in the community sector. It is these services that have over 30 years experience in supporting women affected by violence.

It is the feminist community services that have consistently brought to public attention violence against women AND it is the feminist non government community services working in domestic violence, sexual assault that continue to be starved of appropriate funding and resources.

To me it is somehow obscene that many millions of dollars can be found for projects and events such as World Youth Day or bids to stage the Soccer World Cup yet women have to fight hard to get even slight increases for spending in domestic violence resources.

If we are serious about eliminating domestic violence, violence against women then both state and federal governments have to acknowledge the significance of gender inequality. It must also be acknowledged that:

· Cultural, social and economic factors play a part in women’s inequality
· A significant underlying factor is the unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women.

The United Nations reported that women are particularly vulnerable to abuse by their partners in societies where there are marked inequalities between men and women.

It is unfortunate that in NSW the new unit being set up in Premier and Cabinet will not carry the title Violence “against Women” Prevention Coordination Unit. Without this distinction we fail to acknowledge or even recognise the powerful interplay of gender, power and violence.

It will be doubly unfortunate if this failure is not rectified.

NSW Domestic Violence Committee Coalition
Working towards the safety of women and children in NSW
Coalition Newsletter May 2006

Welcome to the first e-newsletter of the Domestic Violence Committee Coalition. The Coalition was formed after a number of discussions between Joy Goodsell and Betty Green after Joy had made a number of approaches to Premiers Carr and Iemma to initiate a meeting to discuss the critical issues that had been raised during the national conference “Refocusing Women’s Experiences of Violence” held in Bankstown in September 2005. No meeting has yet been secured.

The first official citing of the Coalition was a published letter in the Sydney Morning Herald March 1st 2006, in response to a front page story about the death of a young mother and her baby son in a house fire in Sydney’s southwest in which domestic violence was a key feature. The journalist asked, “why wasn’t this prevented?” and so we presented a number of core responses that we believe could well work towards preventing future women’s murders and deaths as a result of DV.

Why a Coalition?

We believe the concept of a Coalition offers us the opportunity to build a strong, diverse and dynamic network that reaches across the state. We recognise the different and unique needs and challenges of rural and remote services and are mindful that these committees were represented and not left out or behind. We also know that workers across all areas are increasingly weary, tired and frustrated – working with less while demands increase and feeling isolated. We also know that women working in government areas are as tired and frustrated as we in the community sector are. We needed to look at a process that had the potential to break barriers of isolation, feelings of powerlessness and despair and bring together the talents, energy and expertise of workers from wide and diverse contexts.

The Domestic Violence Committee network of which there are over 80 in NSW is an established network that holds a vast wealth of expertise, knowledge, talent and energy. A Coalition allows people and organisations that might not otherwise feel able to engage in advocacy openly to participate at varying levels.

To date our membership is drawn from workers from women’s specialist services including crisis accommodation services such as women’s refuges, domestic violence services, sexual assault services and women’s health services and counselling services, the community sector including Family Support services, government workers, academics, researchers, advocates and activists. We have enquiries for membership from leading peak organisations and women whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. In short the Coalition is potentially the best vehicle we have to engage in a strategic comprehensive campaign to bring domestic violence to
the forefront in NSW.

What are the aims of the Coalition?

 To engage in social action, advocacy and political action to place women’s issues and policy on the political agenda. We have witnessed over recent times the erosion of women’s policy
status. The savage cuts to the Department for Women, the absence of meaningful consultative forums to input into policy development and implementation and the removal of the NSW Violence Against Women Strategy Unit to DoCS are just some examples that reflect the lack of commitment of the NSW Government to women and women’s policy particularly domestic violence, violence against women.

 To ensure that domestic violence is placed on the political and public agenda and raise the awareness of the horrific impact of DV on women’s lives and the children in their care. VicHealth in 2005 released a comprehensive report which clearly indicated the overall impact of intimate partner abuse on women’s health and well-being. We have no reason to believe a similar picture
would not emerge if such a study were conducted in NSW. The impact of violence on the lives and well being of women needs to be addressed so that women are appropriately supported to rebuild their lives. We believe for this goal to be realised Governments must commit to policies and programs that work towards attitudinal change. Domestic Violence is a social issue and government must take leadership in challenging woman abusing attitudes and behaviours.

The Campaign so far….

Thursday the 6th April launched our first social action a Flower Laying Ceremony at the gates of Parliament House Macquarie Street Sydney. This action was in response to the murder of a woman in Fairfield Sydney the previous weekend. She had been supported by domestic violence services in the Liverpool/Fairfield area. A group of Coalition members and supporters gathered outside the gates and taped red roses along the fence of Parliament House; it was powerful and created a good deal of interest from the public and from media. The Red Rose was chosen for a number of reasons it powerfully represents the dynamic of abuse in intimate relationships, it is
most often given to women as a token of “love and affection” and in expressions of apology and is also associated with mourning. It needs to be noted that Mr Bryce Gaudry MP Newcastle was the only sitting member to venture out to the gates and spoke at length to some Coalition members.A bouquet of 8 Red Roses symbolising the 8 women who had been murdered/died as a
result of domestic violence had to left at the concierge desk of Parliament House as attempts to present to them to Premier Iemma were not successful. Other important social actions will be planned that will highlight the lethal consequences of domestic violence on a regular basis. We will keep members informed.

We are working towards delivering a strategic campaign that will include the distribution of information packs to all Domestic Violence Committees across the state. In each pack will be Fact Sheets and Discussion Papers on the issues the Coalition wants to highlight. This information will assist members in preparing media releases to their local media and go towards the information members will share with their local state MP.

We believe an effective campaign hinges on local domestic violence committee members visiting their local MP to discuss their concerns. One of the key things that local and federal MP’s have said when some members have complained about the recent shifts in Family Law for instance is that “we haven’t heard from women about their concerns”. We intend to change that! Members will regularly receive information packs as our campaign progresses.

The first Fact Sheets and Discussion Papers are being prepared that address Domestic Violence and the Domestic Violence Related Homicide Review Team.

What are the demands of the Coalition?
These demands create the platform of our campaign and will be addressed in future newsletters.

1. The development of a stated NSW Domestic Violence Policy that clearly articulates the government’s commitment to the improved safety of women in New South Wales through a whole of government response to the elimination of domestic violence that is endorsed unequivocally by the Premier. We believe the Victorian model successfully reflects a policy that is developed on global evidence-based best practice principles.

2. The urgent establishment of a Domestic Violence Related Homicide Review Team (DVRHT) to identify the systemic responses, which fail to protect women and children who are murdered or die as a result of domestic violence. It needs to be noted that in New South Wales from January of this year (2006) 7 women and 2 children have died within the context of domestic violence. We cannot afford to allow the present system that clearly is not working to perpetuate. We believe the implementation of a process such as the DVRHT will deliver the systemic reforms and increased resourcing that are long overdue.

3. The establishment of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts in NSW. The Coalition believes the judicial system plays a significant and key role in the response to women and domestic violence.

4. The establishment of a Domestic Violence Specialist Unit within NSW Police. We believe this initiative will serve to communicate the seriousness of domestic violence and that service responses are implemented from a specialist position. We are of the opinion that developing a specialist unit within Police presents the opportunity to monitor and strengthen policing practices and procedures. We also believe the establishment of a specialist unit responding to domestic violence provides the opportunity for NSW Police to confer specialist status to Domestic Violence Liaison Officer positions. A move that is long overdue and has been a focus for change over a number of years.

5. An immediate moratorium is placed on the process of competitive tendering of domestic violence service provision in the community sector. The practice is producing serious consequences that warrant further discussion. It is perturbing that established women’s specialist services are increasingly unable to secure funding to continue to provide best practice
models of services to women and children

6. The recognition that children affected by domestic violence must have access to best practice based therapeutic counselling and interventions. We know that children who live in households were domestic violence is present are at risk of being targets of abuse through physical and sexual abuse and are often present when their mother is abused. (IVAWS 2002/03) The Coalition believes that children affected by domestic violence must have access to therapeutic counselling to assist in the recovery of the trauma. Governments must provide resources and funding for therapeutic services for children. The cycle of violence can be disrupted if we support child witnesses of DV.

The Domestic Violence Committee Coalition is aware that there is interest in what we are doing. We are hoping that by developing a strong and united group we will affect policy change.

In Solidarity

“Silence is the language of complicity……Speaking out is the language of change”