Echidna: John Hanscombe | Australia's mounting toll of violence against women | Western Advocate

In just four days, four women in Australia allegedly lost their lives to violence, a staggering number that should elicit widespread outrage. The victims included Lavanya Chappa, Jana Armstrong, 13-year-old Layla Jeffrey, and a 17-year-old Yolngu girl from the Northern Territory. This year, 30 women have been killed, with many of the perpetrators known to the victims, including partners, husbands, and sons.

The media often forgets the names of these victims, but their stories deserve to be remembered. The author received a letter from a reader named Leanne, who expressed frustration with the media's lack of coverage and action on the issue of violence against women. She argued that politicians must do more to address this problem. The author agrees and emphasizes the need for men, particularly those in leadership positions, to set better examples and address any signs of disrespect or violence.

In recent years, the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing estimated that one woman is murdered by an intimate partner every 11 days in Australia, compared to one man every 26 days. National plans and strategies have been implemented, but the problem persists. The author concludes that everyone has a role to play in instilling respect for women in young boys and taking action against violence against women.