Australia Awards South and West Asia

To mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia convened an online seminar with alumnae from the Regional Women in Leadership Network to discuss strategies for preventing violence against women.

Dr Anu Mundkur, the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Advisor for Australia Awards and Manager for Prevention Implementation (Media and Workplaces) at Our Watch, shared her expertise on the critical issue of violence against women. Our Watch is a national leader in preventing violence against women and their children in Australia, working to drive nationwide change in the culture, behaviours, and power imbalances that lead to violence.

Anu emphasised the importance of addressing not only physical violence but also emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, and coercive violence. “Violence against women is a serious and widespread issue,” she noted, highlighting that nearly half of Australian women have experienced sexual harassment.

Earlier this year, Anu conducted workshops on gender equality at the 2024 Regional Alumni Workshop, organised by Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia.

Anu discussed the “Change the Story” framework, which identifies four primary drivers of violence against women: societal condoning of violence, male-dominated power structures, rigid gender stereotypes, and aggressive expressions of masculinity. She stressed that these factors do not operate in isolation but intersect to perpetuate violence. “We still have attitudes and behaviours that condone violence,” she explained, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to prevention. Anu also detailed the socio-ecological model, illustrating how gender inequality manifests at various levels of society, from individual relationships to organisational structures and societal norms.

The questions and answers segment provided further insights into the challenges and strategies in preventing violence against women. Saira Ayub, a woman with a disability from Pakistan, shared her experiences. “Women with disabilities are marginalised and face double discrimination as a woman and due to disability,” she explained. Anu acknowledged these challenges and recommended the resource “Changing the Landscape,” which focuses on the violence experienced by women with disabilities and offers strategies for addressing these issues.

Saira Ayub pictured during her time as a scholar at Flinders University.

K.P. Champika Subhashini from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs highlighted that despite the importance of sexual and reproductive education in schools, there was resistance to it. Dr Mundkur noted that in Australia, there had been opposition to educational programs covering consent and respectful relationships within the household. Our Watch has been advocating for its widespread adoption, and Dr Mundkur expressed hope that it would be included in a national curriculum.

Neerish Mariyam, a lecturer at the Maldivian National University, inquired about how Our Watch reaches rural areas, noting the challenges in engaging remote populations, particularly men, in the Maldives. Dr Mundkur emphasised the importance of partnerships and collaborations, stating, “We work closely with local government councils, supporting them in improving their skills, and with local organisations who know the communities well.” This approach ensures that prevention efforts are culturally sensitive and effectively reach all parts of the community.

Alumna Neerish Mariyam. Photo credit: Maldives Australia Alumni.

Participants welcomed the discussion on approaches to preventing gender-based violence. Aishath Neelam Rasheed of Maldives said, “Dr Anu Mundkur’s session was insightful and refreshing. Given her expertise in the field and years of experience, she shared valuable information that could be applied to our efforts to eliminate gender-based violence worldwide. I found the seminar very useful and I appreciate the opportunity.”

Romana Lalarukh of Pakistan said, “It was illuminating to highlight this 21st-century social crisis, which has an extremely long history. Australian policies, protocols, and laws to protect women are insightful and replicable.” Nisha Singh of Nepal said, “It was great to receive links to the resources and to participate in such an insightful presentation and discussion.”

The event concluded with a discussion on the importance of building a coalition of like-minded organisations to support prevention efforts and the need for strong internal policies to support staff facing resistance. For more information on available resources, visit the Our Watch website.

The Facebook group for the Regional Women in Leadership Network is here.