Arresting violence ‘takes time’

DOMESTIC violence campaigner Rosie Batty fears statistics will get worse before they get better as women become empowered to stand up to their aggressors.

As part of National Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, charity Friends with Dignity hosted Ms Batty and 620 guests for its High Tea With Friends at the Southport Sharks last weekend.

Ms Batty, whose son was killed by his father while at cricket practice in 2014, discussed the battle faced by society as domestic violence continues to be brought in to the public realm.

She said the horrific statistics of one woman dying at the hands of her partner every week in Australia could get worse as victims become empowered to fight for their safety.

“As we do make more people empowered, so will the violence escalate and sadly statistics will get worse before they get better,” Ms Batty said.

“The journey ahead until violence towards women and children is stopped — that’s not going to be in my lifetime, it’s not likely to be in the next 10 or 20 years.”

Ms Batty said one of her key roles was to educate people that domestic violence was a crime that did not discriminate by postcode.

“I know you’ve had some hideous tragedies here on the Gold Coast,” she said. “The Gold Coast is a reflection of everywhere in Australia. Violence towards women and children is of epidemic proportions. It’s across all areas of our society.”

Ms Batty said Australia has an endemic victim-blaming culture that must be abolished before domestic violence is eradicated.

“There’s still a long way to go, before every victim of family violence can expect to be believed, heard and treated with respect by the police, by the magistrate, by friends, family and society because we’re a victim-blaming culture.

“We are moving, and it seems such an obvious solution, but everything takes time.”