Every year for a week in September, the Country Women's Association of NSW holds Awareness Week.
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Branches spread the word in various ways in their communities, on the theme for that year, and what CWA is aiming to do through Advocacy and community awareness.
This year's theme is the issue of domestic violence.
There is concern that in regional and rural areas the rates of violence are higher, considered to be as a result of fewer services to help victims and rehabilitate perpetrators.
In June, it was reported by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research that there has been a 4.1 per cent rise in domestic- violence related crime.
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The coronavirus pandemic is thought to have contributed with its restrictions of lockdown, activities and travel, again significantly reducing victim's options and ability to seek help.
Domestic violence also so often leads to homelessness and its depressing circumstances for both women and children, and men.
The Social Issues Committee of the CWA of NSW is proactive in researching issues from the annual conference resolutions and also issues which arise in the media.
Internationally, the Associated Country Women of the World takes a strong stance on gender-based violence, which was launched 10 years ago by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership.
This led to the formal recognition by the United Nations in 1993 that violence against women was a violation of human rights.
We all need to be aware and proactive in questioning such issues as availability of local counselling, sufficient emergency safe housing, handling of issues in court, immediate financial assistance.
Current victims do not have the emotional strength to advocate for these issues - this is up to us as community members.
