The Western country where domestic violence is of ‘epidemic proportions’

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/the-western-country-where-domestic-violence-is-of-epidemic-proportions-10482336.html

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Domestic violence is an epidemic-scale problem in Australia, a leading Sex Discrimination Commissioner has said.

Elizabeth Broderick, who will step down from her position at the Human Rights Commission on Friday, told reporters it was the "gravest human rights abuse" taking place in the country.

“Domestic violence and violence against women and their children is the gravest human rights abuse happening here in Australia today,” she said.

She said the country was beginning to realise that domestic violence was of “epidemic proportions”, according to the Guardian

Broderick said the fact that two women a week were “murdered by men they know”, was “just beyond belief”, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

In 2012, Australia’s Personal Safety Survey found 41 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men had experienced some form of violence since the age of 15.

But more than three-fifths of women said they had experienced their more recent incident of physical assault by a male in their home.

And data from Australian state and territory police services estimates they deal with 657 domestic violence matters daily, amounting to one case every two minutes.

Although she is leaving her post after eight years, Ms Broderick has said she will continue fighting for gender equality in Australia, the Guardian reported.

She said: “A life without advocating for change? That’s not a life that will have meaning for me. So I will continue to use my voice to create an Australia that welcomes women, that cherishes their voice, that eagerly awaits their wisdom.”

Campaigners have repeatedly raised concerns about domestic violence in Australia.

Earlier this year, ABC News reported that Helen Brereton from the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy in New South Wales said: “We know that domestic violence is the leading cause of death and injury and illness for women in Australia.”

Brereton said the issue could not be ignored, adding it was time “to have conversations about it”.

“I think also we need stronger leadership from government, from our communities to really take some action,” she said.