Australia announces aid for female victims of violence

Michelle Wright
WVoN co-editor

The Australian government is to spend $6.7 million to help tackle violence against women in developing countries.

The funds will support programmes which assist female victims in the Asia-Pacific region.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said: “Australian aid will help deliver shelter and counselling for women disfigured by acid attacks in Cambodia and Uganda.

It will also support women raped during civil wars such as the conflict in Liberia and those seeking their legal rights after suffering physical violence in some central and southern Asian communities.”

The contribution will form part of the UN’s Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women which provides grants to programmes that aim to protect women and girls from abuse.

The announcement came during a recent visit to Australia by Executive Director of UN Women and former Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet.

She praised the country for leading the way in working to secure women’s empowerment and equality:

“In Australia, one in three women experiences violence in her lifetime and in some countries in the Pacific, two in three women are subject to abuse.

“Australia’s support goes a long way in advancing women’s rights here in the Pacific and worldwide.”