“National Crisis” of Intimate Partner Homicides Prompts Mass Protests Against Gendered Violence in Australia

The recent surge of intimate partner homicides in Australia has sparked mass protests demanding action against gendered violence. The deaths have drawn particular attention due to their linkage with closed-circuit television footage showing that the perpetrator behind a knife attack on shoppers at a Sydney shopping center appeared to be targeting women, leading some protesters and experts to question why such assaults are not considered terror attacks for promoting misogynist or incel ideology. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labeled gendered violence as “a national crisis” and will convene his cabinet this week to discuss how the government can intervene best. The increase in homicide is significant, with figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology showing a 28% jump compared to last year’s decline that had lasted for over three decades. However, some experts believe it could be due to cultural issues perpetuated by deeply ingrained attitudes towards women across generations and will take time to fix. Protesters argue more needs to be done as they fear too many women would die if the country waits for intergenerational societal change. In the past week alone, at least 27 women have been allegedly killed by their partners or former partners in Australia this year, with an average of one every four days. The Australian government has committed $1.5 billion across two budgets to address domestic violence and gender equity issues; however, researchers warn that some aspects are not well-addressed. A lack of accessible programs for men dealing with mental health issues or addiction alongside perpetrated acts could fuel these problems, causing harm while there seems a void in proper strategies from various countries. In this light, activists emphasize the need to develop more intensive safety plans and surveillance mechanisms aimed at preventing violence before it escalates into homicide cases.