Updated leadership statement on violence against women and children
Published on 16 April 2018
Horsham Rural City Council has renewed its leadership statement on violence against women and children.
Violence against women is a major issue for Horsham Rural City Council. The family violence incident rate in Horsham Rural City per 100,000 of population (October 2015 – September 2016) was more than double the Victorian average.
Horsham has consistently had the highest rate of family violence incidents in the Grampians Region (2011 to 2016). Since 2012, Horsham has been in the top 10 worst performing areas across the state in relation to family violence.
Director Community Services, Kevin O’Brien said Council’s leadership in this area was critical to ensuring safe, inclusive and respectful communities.
“Violence against women is preventable by ensuring respect and equality between women and men,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Horsham Rural City Council has a leadership role in the community and can influence culture and social norms through our interaction with individuals, families, organisations and community to eliminate attitudes that support violence.”
In 2014, Council adopted its original leadership commitment and statement to the prevention of violence against women.
In 2017 The Act@Work program was then introduced as part of a regionâwide strategy. Act@Work aims to address inequality as it is one of the main drivers of violence against women.
An action plan was developed as part of the Act@Work Program, which included a commitment to review the of the 2014 leadership statement.
The new leadership statement is as follows:
“Horsham Rural City Council is committed to creating a safe, equal and respectful community that supports the prevention of (or is free from) violence against women and children.
Violence against women is preventable by ensuring respect and equality between women and men.
Horsham Rural City Council has a leadership role in the community and can influence cultural and social norms through our interaction with individuals, families, organisations and community to eliminate attitudes that support violence.
Council has an obligation to ensure a safe, equal and respectful workplace and to support employees.
Council is committed to addressing the drivers of gender inequality through the full range of our functions and responsibilities. Our work is underpinned by Council’s membership of the CoRE Alliance; by our Act@Work Action Plan and by actions listed in the Council Plan; Health and Wellbeing Plan and other Council strategies.”