Stop Violence Against Women? - its in the hands of the State : Melbourne Indymedia

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend. One grabbed my arm and pulled
me to the ground. One placed both hands on my chest and pushed, and pushed
until I fell back. One punched me in the face. And One struck me
repeatedly with a long pole.

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, and now I walk the streets
afraid. I cant walk alone. I cant be in crowds. I begin to shake when I
see men that look like my attackers.

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, and now I receive looks of
pity in response to my injuries: Right cheek: swelling, tenderness, slight
discoloring; Left Upper Arm: Large swelling, bruising - 28x17cms; Left
Upper Ribs: tenderness, bruising - 13x8 cms. I went to the hospital to
X-ray my ribs and was asked: "did you take a bit of a fall?"

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, but its okay. Because they
were police. And just Doing Their Job.

I have a number of complaints about events during and beyond the G20
protests in Melbourne. That the property damage caused by a small
contingent of protesters was somehow more devastating than the real
violence enacted by police. That the protesters have been vilified,
described variously as being from interstate, and being from overseas. A
highly trained violent guerilla army, a group of individuals acting to
suit their own agendas. Anarchists, socialists, individualists. So many
labels, so much sensationalism from all angles. Right-wing corporate media
publishing photos of peaceful protesters and a dial-a-thug hotline.
Left-wing groups putting out calls for the "real left" to isolate these
demonstrators. And not a skerrick of truth or perspective amongst them.

At the end of the day, police used extreme force to threaten and injure
peaceful protesters. Large groups of predominately male police against
small groups of predominately female community members. This is nothing
more than state-sponsored violence against women.

It is not the job of police to assault members of the community. Under any
circumstances. It is the role of the police to protect individuals from
harm. Under every circumstance. (Yes, even when big business comes to
town).

I will share with you two particular examples of this state-sponsored
violence against women. One night a pink Cadillac, freshly painted,
planted with seedlings of endangered species and equipped with a
solar-powered sound system, parked itself outside Parliament House. Two
women locked-on. The police forbade moving the car beyond this point. And
so, for 5 hours the car and its chaperones celebrated in the streets -
much dancing was had. Until the police returned, wielding batons and
throwing people away from the car. One woman was pushed to the ground by
four male police officers, kicked in the ribs and beaten with batons. She
suffered (among other things) a heavy concussion. Another police officer
removed his badge before punching me in the face, threatening to "clean me
up".

The next day a small group of musicians (mainly students, and again mainly
women) congregated outside the Melbourne Museum to greet G20-delegates on
their day trip. The women played their music and danced in the doorways of
the museum, until, without prior notice, the police charged. One woman
fell to the ground, convulsing, and had to be carried away as the police
still chased with batons. Reinforcements were called - our small group of
women was soon met with a force of approx 100 police, and 250 riot police.
We left once the ambulance had arrived (which the police had refused to
call) and were marched blocks away.

Is this what a police state looks like?

Community groups and governments alike run public campaigns to Stop
Violence Against Women. Yet no one seems to acknowledge the violence that
women often meet at the hands of the State. Violence that occurs when
groups of men come to break up a protest, action, or blockade held by
women. Violence that is perpetrated against women held in custody (be it
short term or long). Psychological Violence - the threat of aggression,
the fear to walk the streets, the uncertainty over what could happen to
you. Physical violence - being chased, beaten, kicked.

I have heard too many stories of women that have been assaulted at the
hands of the State. This violence is not isolated to the convergence
against G20 (when we are supposed to have expected it). Women at
environmental rallies who without warning have been charged by
baton-wielding police. Women demonstrators named "Slut". "Cunt". "Whore".
Women incarcerated and beaten by their jailor. Separated from friends.
Taunted.

International Law directs the State to protect women from violence and the
threat of violence. In 1993 the UN adopted the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence against Women, which addresses violence against
women as a human rights violation. Women’s right to be free from violence
is also set out in General Recommendation No. 19 of the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (1)
The International community demands that:
1. States must respect rights. Government officials, or those acting with
the authorization of the state, must not commit acts of violence against
women.
2. States must protect women’s rights. The state and its agents must take
effective measures to prevent other individuals or groups (including
private enterprises and corporations) from violating the human rights of
women.
3. States must also fulfill women’s rights. States must ensure the
appropriate infrastructure to support laws, policies and practices to
eliminate violence against women. States are expected to report on the
progress of such laws and policies and to modify features that are
ineffective. (2)

Eliminating State-Sponsored Violence Against Women is clearly yet another
expectation from the International community that Australia has chosen to
disregard.

My body is my own - I will not lose it to the state.

I was assaulted by four men on the weekend, and its not okay.

(1) http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/justice-5-eng
(2) http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/justice-3-eng