By Lyndall Barnett
MELBOURNE — About 600 women and men marched here on June 19 to demand justice for women. Organised by the recently formed Justice for Women Action Collective, the rally protested against the lack of commitment to women's rights demonstrated by the "social justice system" — particularly the judicial system.
The aims and objectives of the group, comprising a broad range of legal, social and economic reforms, were approved by the rally and delivered under the door of the state parliament for the attention of state attorney-general Jan Wade.
The JWAC was formed six weeks ago, initially in response to a series of well-publicised instances of judges making misogynist comments. The most notorious of these involved Justice Bollen (a husband is permitted "rougher than usual handling" of his wife in order to get her "consent" to sex); Justice O'Brien, who decided that since the rape survivor was unconscious at the time of the assault (because her throat had been slashed by the rapist), the trauma associated with the rape was minimal; and magistrate Bland, who when confronted with the unusual phenomenon of a man pleading guilty to rape, announced that in his experience, "no often subsequently means yes".
Law graduate and JWAC member Krysti Guest addressed the issue of how women are viewed and treated by the law. She pointed out that mainstream media coverage of the judges's comments treated their opinions, and sexual violence itself, as aberrant, whereas in fact sexual violence and the attitudes that produce it are widespread and systemic.
Re-education of judges completely missed the point. What is needed is funding, support and development of programs, run by community and feminist groups, which educate the community about gender, racial and class inequities and about the attitudes which perpetuate domestic violence and sexual assault. Women's services
must be funded adequately to ensure women sufficient support and resources to exercise choice in their domestic, social and working lives.
Guest said that the Kennett government's recent "indeterminate sentencing" legislation — introduced supposedly to "protect" women and children — would work against the interests of women because women would be more reluctant to bring charges against family members or friends, and juries more reluctant to convict, when any jail sentence could be extended indefinitely.
Feminist and Koori activist Maree Andrews addressed the rally on the theme of sexual assault. She mentioned the horrific consequences of sexual assault in a sexist society, and ways in which women could organise for empowerment. She spoke of the traditional strength of women organising, and the necessity of every person contributing what they can to the struggle against inequality and injustice.
The final speaker addressed the problems of migrant women confronting domestic violence in a frequently hostile and racist society, and demanded that feminist groups become more sensitive and responsive to the needs of migrant women.
JWAC plans to build on the success of the rally with a public meeting and a community-based publicity campaign. Future plans include another rally and perhaps a national day of action.
Further information can be obtained from Lyndall Barnett c/- Friends Of the Earth, 312 Smith St, Collingwood 3066. Ph: (03) 419 8700 (bh).