On Friday the 23-11-12 about 1000 people marked against domestic violence in the Melbourne CBD.

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology around sixty women are killed each year by a partner.

VicHealth reported domestic violence as being ‘the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in women aged from fifteen to forty-four years.

Ken Lay, Chief Commissioner, described it as an “insidious crime” and that last year police filed 51,000 family incident reports leading to 16,000 arrests and 36,000 charges, with police reports rising by 30% in the past three months.

Fiona McCormack, chief executive of Domestic Violence Victoria, said that family violence costs the Victorian economy about $3.4 billion each year.

Jennifer O’Donnell-Pirisi, event organiser of White Ribbon Day, described the Melbourne protest as a “phenomenal response.”

For victims of crime support and advice call 1800 000 055 or go to www.victimsofcrime.com.au

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