Council is inviting the community to have their say on the draft City of Ballarat Community Charter for Prevention of Violence against Women.
The Charter aims to increase awareness of violence against women as a key social and health issue; highlight the need for a community approach to prevention; gather support for action that reduces violence against women; and to inspire people to act at an individual and community level to eliminate the attitudes that support violence.
City of Ballarat Councillor Cheryl Bromfield said the Charter had been developed as a partnership between Council and a reference group consisting of members from a range of community service organisations.
“The Charter identifies the need for the entire community to play a role in the prevention of violence against women.
“The role of the community will be critical to the success of this Charter, for this reason we encourage the community to provide their feedback on the draft Charter so that we can ensure the Charter is rolled out effectively and successfully.”
The Charter has been designed so that individual community members, workplaces, schools and other community organisations and clubs across Ballarat can make a commitment to the Charter alongside Council as a community partner.
To view the Charter and provide comment please visit Council’s website www.ballarat.vic.gov.au
Hard copies of the Charter and feedback forms are available from Council’s Customer Service Centre, The Phoenix, 25 Armstrong Street South or by contacting Council’s Community Planning unit on 5320 5616.
Feedback is welcomed until Monday 9 January 2012.
Background information on violence against women:
- Violence against women is the biggest contributor to ill health and premature death in women aged 15–44.
- Violenceis more damaging to the health of Victorian women aged 15–44 years than any other well-known risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and smoking.
- Violence against women cost the Australian economy $13.6 billion in 2009 - $3.4 billion for the state of Victoria.