Speaking out about domestic violence
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said no one should be afraid in their own home.
“Domestic violence is a serious issue which has been exacerbated by the impacts of Covid-19, including lockdowns and financial hardship.
“These initiatives will help our community understand the issue and where to get help if needed, while supporting local organisations on the frontline, like the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre.”
Jess Hill, author of See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse, said domestic violence can take many forms and it is important to know the signs that it is happening to you or someone you care about.
“All of us are experiencing a unique moment where a lot of our distractions have been cancelled. Most people aren’t working in offices. We are spending more time with family and less with friends so that isolation is intensifying,” Ms Hill said.
“We are just about to have a review of coercive control, which is the controlling, isolating and surveilling behaviour that makes up the vast majority of domestic violence cases.
“We get a sense of why it might be important to criminalise this type of behaviour and how it’s already being done in other countries, especially the UK.
“If you see behaviour from a friend’s partner that is degrading, controlling, surveilling, paranoid or morbidly jealous, these are dangerous red flags abuse is happening.”
The program runs until Wednesday 2 December. To register visit our City What’s On pages.
https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/free-author-talk-jess-hill
If you, or someone you know are affected by domestic, family or sexual violence support is available 24/7:
- 1800 RESPECT, 1800 737 732 – National Sexual Assault Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service, 24/7
- Rape and Domestic Violence Service Australia/Rape Crisis NSW, 1800 424 017 – provide telephone and online crisis counselling for people who’ve experienced sexual assault, sexual violence, rape or domestic or family violence.
- NSW Domestic Violence Line, 1800 65 64 63 – for referral or information about NSW domestic violence (including accommodation and legal) support services.