Australian Social Inclusion Board
The following letter was mailed to all members of the Australian Social Inclusion Board, Friday 20th June 2008, no response as yet, (unfortunately there was typographical error in the phone number – the “36”, should have been “63”).
* * *
Professor Fiona Stanley
…
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Professor Stanley,
Congratulations on your appointment to the newly created Australian Social Inclusion Board (as per media release 21st May 2008).
I am contacting you to beg for your and the Australian Social Inclusion Board’s assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.
Information regarding my attempts to obtain safety, security and support for us and deal with the problems encountered in a foreign justice system where justice department employees misrepresent in court information from professionals regarding immigrant women and their children’s experience of domestic abuse can be found on the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com (see posts “The Perils of Indifference…”, “Dear Mr Prime Minister …”, “A letter to our new prime minister …”, “Waiting and hoping …” and “Further out of view … further out of mind …”). Extensive documentation has been supplied to numerous government departments, politicians and advocacy organisations over many years in efforts to obtain support and assistance. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard MP, Tanya Plibersek MP and Maxine McKew MP are a few of the people who have received relevant documentation and would be able to supply you with copies of that information.
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
A guest speaker at the “Towards Better Practice: Enhancing collaboration between women’s mental health services and domestic violence services” seminar, hosted by Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work, (proceedings posted at the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website) informed me that “female politicians will not speak up about these issues for fear of backlash” and that “the government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it”. I am hoping that with the formation of this new board there are safer, more supportive and more immediate options now available to women and children who have experienced violence and are desperate to experience safety and social inclusion.
My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years.
In his “Remarks to Inaugural Meeting of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” (04 June 2008) our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, states “The Government’s approach to tackling violence against women is also part of a broader framework of social inclusion. And very simply it is this. If you have a social inclusion agenda to build healthy communities, if it works effectively, and you have maximum participation in the nation’s social and economic opportunities, it usually generates a healthier web of relationships.” The media release regarding the first meeting of the Australian Social Inclusion Board (21 May 2008) refers to “priorities which are important to the social inclusion agenda …homelessness … mental health” and “children at risk”, all of which are challenges and issues for children and women who have experienced violence.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to safety, security, support, sustainable futures and social inclusion for all children and women. I would be happy to become a member of the new Australian Social Inclusion Board and any other body that contributes to effective, practical, timely solutions to the health, governance, economic, well-being and sustainability challenges of our country, our region and our shared planet.
Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
….
Cc Ms Patricia Faulkner, Monsignor Cappo, Ms Linda White, Ms Kerry Graham, Mr Tony Nicholson, Dr Chris Sarra, Ms Elleni Bereded-Samuel, Dr Ngiare Brown, Dr Ron Edwards, Mr Eddie Maguire, Dr John Falzon, Mr Ahmed Fahour, Hon Professor Tony Vinson
* * *
For further information see:
www.socialinclusion.gov.au Australian government website re Social Inclusion
www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2008/media_release_0256.cfm (21 May 2008) Media release re new Australian Social Inclusion Board
Previous post “Waiting and hoping …” which includes a letter to Julia Gillard MP (one of the ministers responsible for the new Board) and rejected nomination for the Australia 2020 Summit.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Ethics ....
* * *
…
Dr Simon Longstaff
Executive Director
St James Ethics Centre
PO Box 3599,
Sydney, New South Wales 2001
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter and information mailed to you 13th November 2007 regarding Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse I am once again contacting you to beg for immediate assistance, advocacy and support for my children and myself and all other children and women in similar traumatic situations. I was assured by your staff person Anne Short at the end of November 2007 that although you were very busy at that time you would contact me in the next month or two, unfortunately there had not been any further communication.
In the meantime I have continued as best I could to try and find someone who cares about these issues and will assist us (see letters posted to the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com and enclosed letters).
I am extremely confused and concerned by my lack of success. Is it how I am communicating or what I am communicating? Why are some issues and individuals afforded immediate government assistance and others ignored? Not only does the current government seem to show more concern and compassion for whales than innocent and vulnerable children and women, but during their short term in office have assisted and intervened on behalf of Australians who boarded Japanese ships to protest against whale hunting, the “Bali Nine” and Schapelle Corby in prison transfer negotiations, an Australian woman who chose to undertake a dangerous ice trek across Greenland and needed emergency evacuation, Australians arrested while protesting against and trying to prevent the seal hunt (slaughter) off the east coast of Canada, an illegal immigrant wanted in their home country China on corruption charges, an Australian man jailed in India for supposedly crossing the border illegally – and those are just the cases that I know about from the media. Meanwhile the government ignores my information or insists it has no ability or responsibility to assist us and continues to ignore Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse and not use any of the information I have shared to protect our citizens and prevent this happening to other Australians!
From my experience there would seem to be an enormous ethical gap between what is said and what in relation to violence against children and women and gender equity and human rights issues. (See enclosed letters Prime Minister, GetUp, National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, Australian Social Inclusion Board, Australian 2020 Summit applications and related letters, and media releases) How is this reflective of government and organisational policy and practice in relation to other gender specific human rights and social justice issues?
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance or protection for us. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar unethical experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to and participate in educational and decision making processes that would see gender equity, social justice and human rights issues dealt with in a more ethical, accessible, sustainable and solution oriented manner.
Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
…
* * *
…
Dr Simon Longstaff
Executive Director
St James Ethics Centre
PO Box 3599,
Sydney, New South Wales 2001
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter and information mailed to you 13th November 2007 regarding Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse I am once again contacting you to beg for immediate assistance, advocacy and support for my children and myself and all other children and women in similar traumatic situations. I was assured by your staff person Anne Short at the end of November 2007 that although you were very busy at that time you would contact me in the next month or two, unfortunately there had not been any further communication.
In the meantime I have continued as best I could to try and find someone who cares about these issues and will assist us (see letters posted to the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com and enclosed letters).
I am extremely confused and concerned by my lack of success. Is it how I am communicating or what I am communicating? Why are some issues and individuals afforded immediate government assistance and others ignored? Not only does the current government seem to show more concern and compassion for whales than innocent and vulnerable children and women, but during their short term in office have assisted and intervened on behalf of Australians who boarded Japanese ships to protest against whale hunting, the “Bali Nine” and Schapelle Corby in prison transfer negotiations, an Australian woman who chose to undertake a dangerous ice trek across Greenland and needed emergency evacuation, Australians arrested while protesting against and trying to prevent the seal hunt (slaughter) off the east coast of Canada, an illegal immigrant wanted in their home country China on corruption charges, an Australian man jailed in India for supposedly crossing the border illegally – and those are just the cases that I know about from the media. Meanwhile the government ignores my information or insists it has no ability or responsibility to assist us and continues to ignore Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse and not use any of the information I have shared to protect our citizens and prevent this happening to other Australians!
From my experience there would seem to be an enormous ethical gap between what is said and what in relation to violence against children and women and gender equity and human rights issues. (See enclosed letters Prime Minister, GetUp, National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, Australian Social Inclusion Board, Australian 2020 Summit applications and related letters, and media releases) How is this reflective of government and organisational policy and practice in relation to other gender specific human rights and social justice issues?
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance or protection for us. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar unethical experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to and participate in educational and decision making processes that would see gender equity, social justice and human rights issues dealt with in a more ethical, accessible, sustainable and solution oriented manner.
Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
…
* * *
Ask and you shall receive ... ?
* * *
…
Brett Solomon
GetUp Ltd
GPO Box A105
South Sydney, New South Wales 1235
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Sir,
I have previously contacted GetUp on several occasions begging for assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. The first few times I was lead to believe that someone would review the online resource I had created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com , but no one got back to me. The last time I phoned I was informed that David Hicks was your priority and then you had other campaigns lined up therefore had no resources to address these issues - but when I saw your “ad” for “FuelWatch” at the conclusion of last nights Q&A Adventures in Democracy programme on the ABC I hoped that seeing you had resources available for that you might be now in a position to assist us.
As your website states “GetUp does not back any particular party, but aims to build an accountable and progressive Parliament – a Parliament with economic fairness, social justice and environment at its core.” I hope that you will be available to advocate for and assist us and help address the “ethical gap” between what is said and what is done in relation to violence against children and women, and how harmful that is to social justice, democracy, accountability, the economy and healthy sustainable communities.
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
A guest speaker at the “Towards Better Practice: Enhancing collaboration between women’s mental health services and domestic violence services” seminar, hosted by Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work, (proceedings posted at the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website) informed me that “female politicians will not speak up about these issues for fear of backlash” and that “the government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it”. What we need are safer, more supportive and more immediate options for women and children who have experienced violence.
Some of the disturbing things I have discovered while begging for assistance include:
• Publicly funded organisations whose excuse for not speaking up on these issues is that they cannot say anything negative about the government or they will lose their funding
• Australia 2020 Summit participants who will not speak up about these issues
• Government and non-government delegates to the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women who will not provide any support, assistance or speak up on theses issues. (Is that a government requirement for selection?)
• Politicians from every political party who believed David Hicks deserved government intervention and “judicial fairness” but no politicians who believe innocent and vulnerable Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse deserve any assistance, support or government intervention, and who do not use the information I have supplied to warn and protect others from a similar trauma
• Researchers and academics who have status as “experts” on these issues but will not assist, provide support or speak up on these issues. (Is it because they fear losing research funding? Or are they ethically comfortable making a living being an “expert” on violence against children and women without caring about those children and women’s experience of violence or feeling any compunction to be part of change – academic community justifies this by calling them “critical theorists”.)
• The Government spends public funds warning Australians of the risks and consequences of being involved with drug trafficking while overseas; something we all know is illegal. When you ignore those warnings, and chose to participate in this criminal activity, in the case of the “Bali Nine” for example, the government will still provide you with consular assistance, pay your legal expenses and try to organise prison transfers for you. If you are the victim of the crime of domestic violence while overseas, the government contends it cannot assist or intervene, and then finances foreign jurisdictions that use government resources to deny Australian children and women safety and justice. (What does this government attitude mean in relation to children and women here who experience domestic violence?)
If it is helpful I can mail you the extensive supporting documentation that I have shared with many others while trying to gain support and assistance for us and other children and women in similar traumatic circumstances.
My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years. What I hope is that then I can be part of the discussion about how our experience might be reflective of other government practices in broader gender contexts and social justice issues and what would constitute “an accountable and progressive Parliament – a Parliament with economic fairness, social justice and environment at its core” in relation to these issues.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable, knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar social justice issues.
Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
…
…
Brett Solomon
GetUp Ltd
GPO Box A105
South Sydney, New South Wales 1235
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Sir,
I have previously contacted GetUp on several occasions begging for assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. The first few times I was lead to believe that someone would review the online resource I had created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com , but no one got back to me. The last time I phoned I was informed that David Hicks was your priority and then you had other campaigns lined up therefore had no resources to address these issues - but when I saw your “ad” for “FuelWatch” at the conclusion of last nights Q&A Adventures in Democracy programme on the ABC I hoped that seeing you had resources available for that you might be now in a position to assist us.
As your website states “GetUp does not back any particular party, but aims to build an accountable and progressive Parliament – a Parliament with economic fairness, social justice and environment at its core.” I hope that you will be available to advocate for and assist us and help address the “ethical gap” between what is said and what is done in relation to violence against children and women, and how harmful that is to social justice, democracy, accountability, the economy and healthy sustainable communities.
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
A guest speaker at the “Towards Better Practice: Enhancing collaboration between women’s mental health services and domestic violence services” seminar, hosted by Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work, (proceedings posted at the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse website) informed me that “female politicians will not speak up about these issues for fear of backlash” and that “the government will not do anything unless the media embarrasses them into it”. What we need are safer, more supportive and more immediate options for women and children who have experienced violence.
Some of the disturbing things I have discovered while begging for assistance include:
• Publicly funded organisations whose excuse for not speaking up on these issues is that they cannot say anything negative about the government or they will lose their funding
• Australia 2020 Summit participants who will not speak up about these issues
• Government and non-government delegates to the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women who will not provide any support, assistance or speak up on theses issues. (Is that a government requirement for selection?)
• Politicians from every political party who believed David Hicks deserved government intervention and “judicial fairness” but no politicians who believe innocent and vulnerable Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse deserve any assistance, support or government intervention, and who do not use the information I have supplied to warn and protect others from a similar trauma
• Researchers and academics who have status as “experts” on these issues but will not assist, provide support or speak up on these issues. (Is it because they fear losing research funding? Or are they ethically comfortable making a living being an “expert” on violence against children and women without caring about those children and women’s experience of violence or feeling any compunction to be part of change – academic community justifies this by calling them “critical theorists”.)
• The Government spends public funds warning Australians of the risks and consequences of being involved with drug trafficking while overseas; something we all know is illegal. When you ignore those warnings, and chose to participate in this criminal activity, in the case of the “Bali Nine” for example, the government will still provide you with consular assistance, pay your legal expenses and try to organise prison transfers for you. If you are the victim of the crime of domestic violence while overseas, the government contends it cannot assist or intervene, and then finances foreign jurisdictions that use government resources to deny Australian children and women safety and justice. (What does this government attitude mean in relation to children and women here who experience domestic violence?)
If it is helpful I can mail you the extensive supporting documentation that I have shared with many others while trying to gain support and assistance for us and other children and women in similar traumatic circumstances.
My priority is for my children and I and the other Australian mother and children mentioned in my online resource to be safely home in Australia with our families immediately, and for others in similar traumatic circumstances, who are unknown to me, to also receive immediate assistance and intervention - to provide the safety and justice we have been denied for so many years. What I hope is that then I can be part of the discussion about how our experience might be reflective of other government practices in broader gender contexts and social justice issues and what would constitute “an accountable and progressive Parliament – a Parliament with economic fairness, social justice and environment at its core” in relation to these issues.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable, knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar social justice issues.
Immediate assistance, support and advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
…
Role and responsibility of the Australian Government Office for Women ...
Faxed to #02-6212-9572, and mailed Thursday 12th June 2008, (Express guaranteed next day delivery #BN3448044) with supporting information. No response as yet.
* * *
…
Julia Burns
Executive Director
Australian Government Office for Women
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Ms Burns,
I am contacting your office again in regards to the desperate and traumatic situation of Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. Despite many years of begging for assistance from politicians, academics, researchers, women’s and human rights advocates and organisations I have not been successful in finding anyone willing and available to assist us (see www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com the online resource I created in the form of a blog).
Is the creation of the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children an opportunity for you and your department to work with the council to provide immediate assistance and advocacy and ensure safety, security and support for these innocent and vulnerable Australians? When no one else has the integrity or political will to speak up for Australian children and women who have not only experienced the trauma of domestic violence but are additionally traumatised by being trapped far from safety and family in a country that finds violence against immigrant women and their children acceptable, will you and the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children work together with us to ensure we receive safety and justice and the immediate assistance, protection and advocacy we have needed and deserved for many years?
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance or protection for us. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to safety, security, support and sustainable futures for all children and women. I would be happy to become a member of the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children and any other body that contributes to effective, practical, timely solutions to the health, governance, economic, well-being and sustainability challenges of our country, our region and our shared planet.
Sincerely,
…
* * *
Office for Women- National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women And Children, Terms of Reference www.ofw.facs.gov/au/womens_safety_agenda/national_council_reduce_violence
* * *
…
Julia Burns
Executive Director
Australian Government Office for Women
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre, ACT 2610
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Ms Burns,
I am contacting your office again in regards to the desperate and traumatic situation of Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse. Despite many years of begging for assistance from politicians, academics, researchers, women’s and human rights advocates and organisations I have not been successful in finding anyone willing and available to assist us (see www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com the online resource I created in the form of a blog).
Is the creation of the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children an opportunity for you and your department to work with the council to provide immediate assistance and advocacy and ensure safety, security and support for these innocent and vulnerable Australians? When no one else has the integrity or political will to speak up for Australian children and women who have not only experienced the trauma of domestic violence but are additionally traumatised by being trapped far from safety and family in a country that finds violence against immigrant women and their children acceptable, will you and the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children work together with us to ensure we receive safety and justice and the immediate assistance, protection and advocacy we have needed and deserved for many years?
This situation has been so traumatic that my eldest daughter attempted suicide and I still cannot get any assistance or protection for us. I am extremely concerned for my children’s welfare, wellbeing and safety, my wellbeing and safety, the wellbeing and safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
These issues need to be part of public and political discourse, and until my children and I are safe we need to not be in any way identifiable - knowing you can ask for assistance and remain safely anonymous would be an important factor in other women and families coming forward to share their information of similar experiences. When my children and I are safe I would like to use my experiential knowledge and extensive research to contribute to safety, security, support and sustainable futures for all children and women. I would be happy to become a member of the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children and any other body that contributes to effective, practical, timely solutions to the health, governance, economic, well-being and sustainability challenges of our country, our region and our shared planet.
Sincerely,
…
* * *
Office for Women- National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women And Children, Terms of Reference www.ofw.facs.gov/au/womens_safety_agenda/national_council_reduce_violence
Dear Mr Prime Minister ...
Emailed to Prime Minister via website Thursday 19th June (received confirmation email response) and posted with additional supporting information Friday 20th June 2008. No response as yet
* * *
…
The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter and extensive supporting documentation, mailed 20th December, 2007, (express guaranteed next day delivery #SN4433932) to which I have not yet received a response I am again contacting you to beg for your concern, compassion and assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.
For further information please consult the extensive documentation forwarded to yourself, Tanya Plibersek MP (via Senator Joseph Ludwig) and Maxine McKew MP and the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com .
In the hope of finding support and assistance I have also contacted members of the newly created National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (see enclosed letter and dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process to Develop a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships.” mailed on Tuesday 3rd June 2008) but unfortunately have not as yet received a response from any council member.
In your “Remarks to Inaugural Meeting of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” 4th June 2008 you assert that “The nation, in my view, the nation and the community, must adopt a zero tolerance attitude to violence against women and violence against children. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. That’s where we have to be as a nation, that’s were we have to be as a community.” You go on to state “The purpose is really good public policy. It rests in some very decent Australian values. Values of fairness. And if we can’t provide fairness to women and children who are under the threat of violence, then frankly we need to try a lot harder.”
As a mother, with much love and concern for my children, but without the safety, power, privilege, resources and opportunity of a prime minister, I can only once again beg for you to exemplify the attitude and beliefs quoted above in immediate intervention on our behalf and for all Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial, and assistance to provide us with the safety, security and support we need and deserve.
Sincerely,
…
* * *
“Remarks to Inaugural Meeting if the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children”, 04 June 2008 www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0285.cfm
See post “National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children …” for links to other related media releases and information.
* * *
…
The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter and extensive supporting documentation, mailed 20th December, 2007, (express guaranteed next day delivery #SN4433932) to which I have not yet received a response I am again contacting you to beg for your concern, compassion and assistance for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.
For further information please consult the extensive documentation forwarded to yourself, Tanya Plibersek MP (via Senator Joseph Ludwig) and Maxine McKew MP and the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com .
In the hope of finding support and assistance I have also contacted members of the newly created National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (see enclosed letter and dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process to Develop a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships.” mailed on Tuesday 3rd June 2008) but unfortunately have not as yet received a response from any council member.
In your “Remarks to Inaugural Meeting of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children” 4th June 2008 you assert that “The nation, in my view, the nation and the community, must adopt a zero tolerance attitude to violence against women and violence against children. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. That’s where we have to be as a nation, that’s were we have to be as a community.” You go on to state “The purpose is really good public policy. It rests in some very decent Australian values. Values of fairness. And if we can’t provide fairness to women and children who are under the threat of violence, then frankly we need to try a lot harder.”
As a mother, with much love and concern for my children, but without the safety, power, privilege, resources and opportunity of a prime minister, I can only once again beg for you to exemplify the attitude and beliefs quoted above in immediate intervention on our behalf and for all Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial, and assistance to provide us with the safety, security and support we need and deserve.
Sincerely,
…
* * *
“Remarks to Inaugural Meeting if the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children”, 04 June 2008 www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0285.cfm
See post “National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children …” for links to other related media releases and information.
Mary Crawford ... Gender and the Australian Parliament
* * *
Mary Crawford
Queensland University of Technology
Re: Gender and the Australian Parliament & Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Ms Crawford,
Thank you for the interest you expressed in receiving information further to my recent phone call regarding the connection between your work on Gender and the Australian Parliament and my personal issue of how to gain assistance, advocacy and support for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.
I am continually amazed and horrified at my experience of how these power and patriarchy realities affect the “ethical gap” between what is said and what is done in regards to issues such as human rights, equity, and violence that disproportionately affect children and women and the difficulty/seeming impossibility of creating, facilitating and enabling change.
The online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com contains information about some of my efforts on our behalf (see posts “The Perils of Indifference … ”, “Waiting and hoping …”, “ Further out of view … further out of mind ….”, “Letter to our new prime minister …” , “Dear Mr Prime Minister …” and “When women won the vote what was the prize?” )
The following letters to the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (mailed Tuesday, 3rd May, 2008 with dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Developing a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships” – no response from any council members) and Julia Burns, Executive Director, Office for Women, reflect the “trickle down” effect of power and patriarchy’s resistance to real and meaningful change and my experience of how these gender specific issues are “seen” to be dealt with, when the reality is quiet different and many people are involved in “keeping the secret” of these unethical inequities and human rights abuses.
Any assistance, support or advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
….
* * *
To read Mary's Online Opinion article "Gender and the Australian Parliament
www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5808
* * *
It meant so much to me that yesterday morning, Monday 30th June, Mary phoned and left me a message saying she had received my fax and material I had mailed to her and although she was very busy with her PhD work and some upcoming conferences she would be getting in contact with me in the next few weeks … it really meant a lot that although she was so busy with her own important work she didn’t ignore me or these issues, unlike most people - including those whose job, research, portfolio or political publicity would lead you to believe they are supposedly concerned with issues of violence against children and women.
* * *
Mary Crawford
Queensland University of Technology
Re: Gender and the Australian Parliament & Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Ms Crawford,
Thank you for the interest you expressed in receiving information further to my recent phone call regarding the connection between your work on Gender and the Australian Parliament and my personal issue of how to gain assistance, advocacy and support for Australian children and women trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse.
I am continually amazed and horrified at my experience of how these power and patriarchy realities affect the “ethical gap” between what is said and what is done in regards to issues such as human rights, equity, and violence that disproportionately affect children and women and the difficulty/seeming impossibility of creating, facilitating and enabling change.
The online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com contains information about some of my efforts on our behalf (see posts “The Perils of Indifference … ”, “Waiting and hoping …”, “ Further out of view … further out of mind ….”, “Letter to our new prime minister …” , “Dear Mr Prime Minister …” and “When women won the vote what was the prize?” )
The following letters to the new National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children (mailed Tuesday, 3rd May, 2008 with dvd “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Developing a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships” – no response from any council members) and Julia Burns, Executive Director, Office for Women, reflect the “trickle down” effect of power and patriarchy’s resistance to real and meaningful change and my experience of how these gender specific issues are “seen” to be dealt with, when the reality is quiet different and many people are involved in “keeping the secret” of these unethical inequities and human rights abuses.
Any assistance, support or advocacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
….
* * *
To read Mary's Online Opinion article "Gender and the Australian Parliament
www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5808
* * *
It meant so much to me that yesterday morning, Monday 30th June, Mary phoned and left me a message saying she had received my fax and material I had mailed to her and although she was very busy with her PhD work and some upcoming conferences she would be getting in contact with me in the next few weeks … it really meant a lot that although she was so busy with her own important work she didn’t ignore me or these issues, unlike most people - including those whose job, research, portfolio or political publicity would lead you to believe they are supposedly concerned with issues of violence against children and women.
* * *
Monday, 21 April 2008
Waiting .... hoping ....
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Deputy Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Ms Gillard,
I understand that the women of the federal Labor Party actively lobbied the Prime Minister to appoint a female as next Governor General. You and your colleges must be very pleased with yesterday’s announcement of Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC as Australia’s first female appointed to this position. Ms Bryce is a gracious, involved and intelligent woman, an excellent choice for the position.
Unfortunately there is a one in millions chance for an Australian female to become Governor General while currently there is a 3-5 in 10 chance of a female in Australia experiencing domestic violence. It would make more difference in the everyday lives of girls and women to address the violence there is a high probability they will experience than to remind them of the opportunities there is little chance they will experience.
What is the benefit to girls and women for women who already have power, privilege, safety and security to receive greater opportunity when the plight of children and women who do not have any power, privilege, safety or security and are experiencing family and domestic violence is ignored?
While many hope that the announcement of any female to such a position will be an example and inspiration for all girls and women that they can do anything they want to and set their minds to, what does it mean to the many women who are unable to persuade anyone to invoke and uphold domestic laws and international human rights agreements to protect their children and themselves from family and domestic violence? For a woman such as myself who has experienced many people, including Dr Peter Jaffe (international expert on child witnesses to domestic abuse, Academic Director, Centre for Research on Violence Against Children and Women, University of Western Ontario and Director Emeritus, Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System) tell me that I have done more than any other mother they know to try and protect my children and they don’t know what else to suggest, then this is other experience of the traumatic and hidden injustices and hypocrisy of our country and our world.
On the same evening news program as Ms Bryce’s appointment announcement we were also informed that sailors on the Sea Shepherd who have been arrested as a result of their activities protesting the seal (slaughter) hunt in Canada subsequently received immediate assistance from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. I first contacted the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs begging for assistance for my children and myself in 1999. Please help me, and all the other Australian children and women trapped in Canada and other countries because of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse understand why we are not eligible for or deserving of any Australian assistance while so many others are?
From the articles and letters I have posted to the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com it can be seen that many people, politicians and organisations have been contacted and begged to provide assistance for all Australian children and women in these traumatic situations - all who from their public statements I had believed found violence against children and women unacceptable. What I have unfortunately and traumatically discovered is that many who say they care about these issues do not feel any moral or ethical obligation to actually do anything! When directly approached to assist children and women who are experiencing the terrible effects of family and domestic violence and subsequent systemic and judicial abuse, they have a myriad of excuses for not getting involved – not doing anything that might provide safety, security and support for these innocent and vulnerable children and women.
Yet these same people and their peers readily demand and hold the government accountable for providing support and “justice” for David Hicks, believe it was appropriate and responsible of the government to spend $10 million rescuing Douglas Woods from Iraq, are urging the government to do more to save the whales from the Japanese whale hunters, find it acceptable for tax-payers dollars to be spent providing consular assistance for Australian paedophiles caught and jailed in Asia, that funding the Bali Nine’s and Schapelle Corby’s legal defence and arranging prisoner exchanges and transfers to Australia for convicted drug traffickers are appropriate uses of Australian public resources as is coordinating with the Canadian government to provide assistance and rescue from Lebanon for Melissa Hawach, her daughters and her hired assistants.
Not only do these people refuse to assist Australian children and women in desperate circumstances but they also refuse to use the information I have shared to protect and prevent other Australian women and their children from the same horrific experiences.
The trauma of this situation led to …. attempting suicide and subsequently being hospitalised, and I still can’t get any assistance or support in Canada or Australia – and am concerned for …. safety and …. who is now the same age and at the same stage of life as … was when … attempted suicide. Currently I have no way of knowing how this has impacted …. From what I know and understand the upcoming Mother’s Day is not only an extremely traumatic and perilous time for me but also for … , especially … who has already attempted suicide once.
My personal perspective of my and others women’s experience of being trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse is that it is a personalised, individualised, to-order, form of sex trafficking – women trying to escape situations of entrapment overseas because of domestic violence face similar challenges to women who are trafficked for the sex industry. We have all been deliberately mislead about the intent or purpose for us travelling to another country, we all experience multiple forms of abuse, when we try and seek assistance from the local authorities in the country we have travelled to under false information and misrepresentation of the intent and circumstances involved we are not given the support or assistance that that country’s laws and international laws would supposedly guarantee, many are too embarrassed or too afraid to tell their families what is really going on and many of us feel the only way to escape is to commit suicide. One big difference is that somehow many people see this as being acceptable and legal when individual males treat individual females that they have married in this way. Apparently marriage makes it acceptable.
The more I share information about our situations, the more I learn about the systems that are supposed to provide justice and democracy the more I become confused and concerned … for example, I applied to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit and had contacted Tim Costello to ask for his support. My application was rejected; Tim Costello’s response ignored the social exclusion issues of violence against children and women.
There are other people I had contacted over the years who have been selected to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit that despite the information I have shared with them are not available to speak up about these human rights abuses, are not available to speak up for Australian children and women, are not available to use the knowledge they have and the opportunities they have to make a difference for those less privileged and less safe than themselves. What benefit is it to women and girls to have 51% female participation in the Australia 2020 Summit discussions if the issue of violence against women – which will affect between 30- 50 % of females in their life time – will not be addressed? What was the criterion for being chosen to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit and why, when it appears that no one else will speak up about violence against children and women was my application rejected?
Doing nothing deliberately endangers not only my children and myself and the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource/blog but all Australian children and women who have or will experience domestic violence - whereas immediate action can protect us, prevent similar traumatic experiences and provide a message of inspiration, hope, equity, justice and respect for all girls and women.
Please find enclosed a DVD “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Making a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships”, which … and I were both involved in producing. If you require I can also provide you with copies of my c.v., references regarding my domestic violence advocacy and education work, letters from professionals (doctor, social worker with domestic violence advocacy program, counsellor, pre-schoolteacher) expressing their concern about the … Justice Department employee misrepresenting their information and concerns about my children’s and my safety and experience of domestic violence and other documentation. The Prime Minister has also received extensive documentation in regards to these circumstances, which you could ask him to share with you if you are interested.
I am extremely concerned for my children’s safety, my safety, the safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource who are also trapped in Canada because of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
Any advocacy, assistance, support or advice that would address these issues and bring us to safety while protecting our identity and privacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
* *
Accompanying copy of Australia 2020 Summit Submission …
Australia 2020 Summit Submission
Submitted for both the Social Inclusion and Governance Working Groups
(As my application to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit was rejected, and some of the people who have been accepted to participate include people I have asked to speak up for children and women who have experienced domestic violence and for whatever reason are not available to do so, I am curious to see if my submission will be accepted or rejected. I am still available to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit to bring my experience, knowledge, ethics and solutions to this process on behalf of the millions of Australian children and women who have experienced domestic and family violence and whom no-one else seems to be available to speak and advocate for in public for real change, for safety, security, support and human rights.)
Submission
Ethical & economic responsibility (Noel Pearson “Understanding Ethics” “Ethics & Political Practice” “Ethics Public for the Sector”)
Responsible & credible government accounting - General Progress Indicator, Index of Social & Economic Welfare “more reliably measure economic progress, … distinguishes between worthwhile growth & economic growth” (wikipedia - information & references) GDP calculates Dr Patel crisis economically beneficial! Trial comparative accounting period?
Government priorities - $10 million rescue Douglas Woods from Iraq, consular assistance & legal funding Corby, “Bali Nine”, consular assistance Australian paedophiles arrested Asia, lobbying & $500,000 flight David Hicks – Australian children & women trapped overseas by domestic violence & systemic & judicial abuse ignored. Australian values? Economically responsible? Equity & social inclusion for children & women? Other situations we don’t talk/hear about?
“Nothing about us without us” include “experts by experience” in decision-making. Currently “ethical gap” between rhetoric & reality, researchers have vested interest in research, politicians in re-election, “experts by experience” in change so nobody experiences problems they experienced (listen to any “victim”, Tim Costello “Streets of Hope”, Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”.)
Misnomer “government funding” v “public funding”-language, ownership & outcomes - affect on social research? Who benefits? Bias & influence?
“Watchdogs” HREOC, Ombudsman, separate from other government departments, more citizen involvement/access; FOI access, “whistleblower” support & assistance = prevention/risk-management. (“Bega Butcher”, DoCs NSW - those with power/“experts” weren’t “whistleblowers”.)
Micro credit for self-sufficiency/self-determination - Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”
Sustainability - www.sustainabilityadvantage.com
Community based social marketing for local solutions www.cbsm.com
Enable cross-sectoral partnerships - community, government, business.
Implement signed international human-rights instruments.
Economics & Rule of Law – “The Economist” March 15th 2008 p83-85
Justice - Margaret Cunneen “Ninian Stephen Lecture”
Management - Jim Collins, “Good to Great” & “Good to Great & the Social Sectors” Random House
“Recognising our responsibility & opportunity for creating our reality is the only way I see for making the shift from fear to love – from a world of scarcity & greed to one of abundance in which all people are empowered to fulfil their needs in sustainable ways. … we must break through long cultural conditioning on our lack of power, our willingness to accept, & thus co-create, economic & political inequities that disempower people, currency systems that promote these inequities & anything else preventing the full expression of human potential in sustainable ways.”
Margaret Somerville, Australian ethicist, quoting Elisabet Sahtouris in “The Ethical Imagination” Anansi Press 2006 (p 238-239)
“We don’t need new technologies to solve our problems; while new
technologies can make some contributions, for the most part we “just”
need the political will to apply solutions already available. Of course
that’s a big “just.” But … modern societies have already found the will to
solve some of our problems, and to achieve partial solutions to others.”
Jared Diamond, “Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive.”
Penguin Books 2005, P 522
“It is hardly a moral act to encourage others patiently to accept injustice which he himself does not endure”.
Martin Luther King
* *
Mailed Monday 14th April 2008 (guaranteed next day delivery) to Julia Gillard, Maxine McKew, Natasha Stott-Despoja and Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce, AC.
Waiting for a response … hoping for some care, concern, support and justice before Mother’s Day for Australian mothers and their children trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse …
Deputy Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Re: Australian Children and Women Trapped Overseas by Domestic Violence and Systemic and Judicial Abuse
Dear Ms Gillard,
I understand that the women of the federal Labor Party actively lobbied the Prime Minister to appoint a female as next Governor General. You and your colleges must be very pleased with yesterday’s announcement of Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC as Australia’s first female appointed to this position. Ms Bryce is a gracious, involved and intelligent woman, an excellent choice for the position.
Unfortunately there is a one in millions chance for an Australian female to become Governor General while currently there is a 3-5 in 10 chance of a female in Australia experiencing domestic violence. It would make more difference in the everyday lives of girls and women to address the violence there is a high probability they will experience than to remind them of the opportunities there is little chance they will experience.
What is the benefit to girls and women for women who already have power, privilege, safety and security to receive greater opportunity when the plight of children and women who do not have any power, privilege, safety or security and are experiencing family and domestic violence is ignored?
While many hope that the announcement of any female to such a position will be an example and inspiration for all girls and women that they can do anything they want to and set their minds to, what does it mean to the many women who are unable to persuade anyone to invoke and uphold domestic laws and international human rights agreements to protect their children and themselves from family and domestic violence? For a woman such as myself who has experienced many people, including Dr Peter Jaffe (international expert on child witnesses to domestic abuse, Academic Director, Centre for Research on Violence Against Children and Women, University of Western Ontario and Director Emeritus, Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System) tell me that I have done more than any other mother they know to try and protect my children and they don’t know what else to suggest, then this is other experience of the traumatic and hidden injustices and hypocrisy of our country and our world.
On the same evening news program as Ms Bryce’s appointment announcement we were also informed that sailors on the Sea Shepherd who have been arrested as a result of their activities protesting the seal (slaughter) hunt in Canada subsequently received immediate assistance from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. I first contacted the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs begging for assistance for my children and myself in 1999. Please help me, and all the other Australian children and women trapped in Canada and other countries because of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse understand why we are not eligible for or deserving of any Australian assistance while so many others are?
From the articles and letters I have posted to the online resource I created in the form of a blog www.womenwhowant2gohome.blogspot.com it can be seen that many people, politicians and organisations have been contacted and begged to provide assistance for all Australian children and women in these traumatic situations - all who from their public statements I had believed found violence against children and women unacceptable. What I have unfortunately and traumatically discovered is that many who say they care about these issues do not feel any moral or ethical obligation to actually do anything! When directly approached to assist children and women who are experiencing the terrible effects of family and domestic violence and subsequent systemic and judicial abuse, they have a myriad of excuses for not getting involved – not doing anything that might provide safety, security and support for these innocent and vulnerable children and women.
Yet these same people and their peers readily demand and hold the government accountable for providing support and “justice” for David Hicks, believe it was appropriate and responsible of the government to spend $10 million rescuing Douglas Woods from Iraq, are urging the government to do more to save the whales from the Japanese whale hunters, find it acceptable for tax-payers dollars to be spent providing consular assistance for Australian paedophiles caught and jailed in Asia, that funding the Bali Nine’s and Schapelle Corby’s legal defence and arranging prisoner exchanges and transfers to Australia for convicted drug traffickers are appropriate uses of Australian public resources as is coordinating with the Canadian government to provide assistance and rescue from Lebanon for Melissa Hawach, her daughters and her hired assistants.
Not only do these people refuse to assist Australian children and women in desperate circumstances but they also refuse to use the information I have shared to protect and prevent other Australian women and their children from the same horrific experiences.
The trauma of this situation led to …. attempting suicide and subsequently being hospitalised, and I still can’t get any assistance or support in Canada or Australia – and am concerned for …. safety and …. who is now the same age and at the same stage of life as … was when … attempted suicide. Currently I have no way of knowing how this has impacted …. From what I know and understand the upcoming Mother’s Day is not only an extremely traumatic and perilous time for me but also for … , especially … who has already attempted suicide once.
My personal perspective of my and others women’s experience of being trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse is that it is a personalised, individualised, to-order, form of sex trafficking – women trying to escape situations of entrapment overseas because of domestic violence face similar challenges to women who are trafficked for the sex industry. We have all been deliberately mislead about the intent or purpose for us travelling to another country, we all experience multiple forms of abuse, when we try and seek assistance from the local authorities in the country we have travelled to under false information and misrepresentation of the intent and circumstances involved we are not given the support or assistance that that country’s laws and international laws would supposedly guarantee, many are too embarrassed or too afraid to tell their families what is really going on and many of us feel the only way to escape is to commit suicide. One big difference is that somehow many people see this as being acceptable and legal when individual males treat individual females that they have married in this way. Apparently marriage makes it acceptable.
The more I share information about our situations, the more I learn about the systems that are supposed to provide justice and democracy the more I become confused and concerned … for example, I applied to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit and had contacted Tim Costello to ask for his support. My application was rejected; Tim Costello’s response ignored the social exclusion issues of violence against children and women.
There are other people I had contacted over the years who have been selected to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit that despite the information I have shared with them are not available to speak up about these human rights abuses, are not available to speak up for Australian children and women, are not available to use the knowledge they have and the opportunities they have to make a difference for those less privileged and less safe than themselves. What benefit is it to women and girls to have 51% female participation in the Australia 2020 Summit discussions if the issue of violence against women – which will affect between 30- 50 % of females in their life time – will not be addressed? What was the criterion for being chosen to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit and why, when it appears that no one else will speak up about violence against children and women was my application rejected?
Doing nothing deliberately endangers not only my children and myself and the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource/blog but all Australian children and women who have or will experience domestic violence - whereas immediate action can protect us, prevent similar traumatic experiences and provide a message of inspiration, hope, equity, justice and respect for all girls and women.
Please find enclosed a DVD “How Then Shall We Live: A Process for Making a Plan to Escape Abusive Relationships”, which … and I were both involved in producing. If you require I can also provide you with copies of my c.v., references regarding my domestic violence advocacy and education work, letters from professionals (doctor, social worker with domestic violence advocacy program, counsellor, pre-schoolteacher) expressing their concern about the … Justice Department employee misrepresenting their information and concerns about my children’s and my safety and experience of domestic violence and other documentation. The Prime Minister has also received extensive documentation in regards to these circumstances, which you could ask him to share with you if you are interested.
I am extremely concerned for my children’s safety, my safety, the safety of the other Australian woman and her children mentioned in my online resource who are also trapped in Canada because of domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse, all other children and women in this traumatic situation, concerned about security of my information and documents and personal possessions still in Canada and desperate for immediate intervention and assistance for all of us.
Any advocacy, assistance, support or advice that would address these issues and bring us to safety while protecting our identity and privacy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
* *
Accompanying copy of Australia 2020 Summit Submission …
Australia 2020 Summit Submission
Submitted for both the Social Inclusion and Governance Working Groups
(As my application to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit was rejected, and some of the people who have been accepted to participate include people I have asked to speak up for children and women who have experienced domestic violence and for whatever reason are not available to do so, I am curious to see if my submission will be accepted or rejected. I am still available to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit to bring my experience, knowledge, ethics and solutions to this process on behalf of the millions of Australian children and women who have experienced domestic and family violence and whom no-one else seems to be available to speak and advocate for in public for real change, for safety, security, support and human rights.)
Submission
Ethical & economic responsibility (Noel Pearson “Understanding Ethics” “Ethics & Political Practice” “Ethics Public for the Sector”)
Responsible & credible government accounting - General Progress Indicator, Index of Social & Economic Welfare “more reliably measure economic progress, … distinguishes between worthwhile growth & economic growth” (wikipedia - information & references) GDP calculates Dr Patel crisis economically beneficial! Trial comparative accounting period?
Government priorities - $10 million rescue Douglas Woods from Iraq, consular assistance & legal funding Corby, “Bali Nine”, consular assistance Australian paedophiles arrested Asia, lobbying & $500,000 flight David Hicks – Australian children & women trapped overseas by domestic violence & systemic & judicial abuse ignored. Australian values? Economically responsible? Equity & social inclusion for children & women? Other situations we don’t talk/hear about?
“Nothing about us without us” include “experts by experience” in decision-making. Currently “ethical gap” between rhetoric & reality, researchers have vested interest in research, politicians in re-election, “experts by experience” in change so nobody experiences problems they experienced (listen to any “victim”, Tim Costello “Streets of Hope”, Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”.)
Misnomer “government funding” v “public funding”-language, ownership & outcomes - affect on social research? Who benefits? Bias & influence?
“Watchdogs” HREOC, Ombudsman, separate from other government departments, more citizen involvement/access; FOI access, “whistleblower” support & assistance = prevention/risk-management. (“Bega Butcher”, DoCs NSW - those with power/“experts” weren’t “whistleblowers”.)
Micro credit for self-sufficiency/self-determination - Muhammad Yunus “Banker to the Poor”
Sustainability - www.sustainabilityadvantage.com
Community based social marketing for local solutions www.cbsm.com
Enable cross-sectoral partnerships - community, government, business.
Implement signed international human-rights instruments.
Economics & Rule of Law – “The Economist” March 15th 2008 p83-85
Justice - Margaret Cunneen “Ninian Stephen Lecture”
Management - Jim Collins, “Good to Great” & “Good to Great & the Social Sectors” Random House
“Recognising our responsibility & opportunity for creating our reality is the only way I see for making the shift from fear to love – from a world of scarcity & greed to one of abundance in which all people are empowered to fulfil their needs in sustainable ways. … we must break through long cultural conditioning on our lack of power, our willingness to accept, & thus co-create, economic & political inequities that disempower people, currency systems that promote these inequities & anything else preventing the full expression of human potential in sustainable ways.”
Margaret Somerville, Australian ethicist, quoting Elisabet Sahtouris in “The Ethical Imagination” Anansi Press 2006 (p 238-239)
“We don’t need new technologies to solve our problems; while new
technologies can make some contributions, for the most part we “just”
need the political will to apply solutions already available. Of course
that’s a big “just.” But … modern societies have already found the will to
solve some of our problems, and to achieve partial solutions to others.”
Jared Diamond, “Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive.”
Penguin Books 2005, P 522
“It is hardly a moral act to encourage others patiently to accept injustice which he himself does not endure”.
Martin Luther King
* *
Mailed Monday 14th April 2008 (guaranteed next day delivery) to Julia Gillard, Maxine McKew, Natasha Stott-Despoja and Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce, AC.
Waiting for a response … hoping for some care, concern, support and justice before Mother’s Day for Australian mothers and their children trapped overseas by domestic violence and systemic and judicial abuse …
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