A White Ribbon Day ambassador, the Golden Plains Shire councillor believes local government is ideally placed to lead by example when it comes to prevention of violence against women.

The advocacy Cr McArthur has provided on this issue has been key to ensuring violence against women is firmly on the agenda for local government in Victoria.

As a result, the MAV has released two documents outlining the issue. The first is MAV Prevention of Violence Against Women Leadership Statement, launched in May 2012, and the second  Prevention of Violence Against Women: Leading Change in the Victorian Local Government Sector, a booklet launched by Cr McArthur at the White Ribbon Conference in Sydney in May this year.

The booklet, which has been sent to all mayors across Australia, contains an overview of the issue and the leadership role the MAV is demonstrating, along with eight case studies of councils’ innovative efforts and achievements.

The MAV also produces a fortnightly email update on issues relating to the prevention of violence against women and gender equity.

“Victorian councils are leading the nation in this work and are increasingly active and sophisticated in their approach to addressing gender equity as a key determinant of violence against women,” Cr McArthur said.

“Through planning, policy and sensitive delivery, local government in Victoria is leading the way in helping to prevent violence against women.”

Cr McArthur said violence against women was prevalent in all sectors of society and could not be ignored.

“Preventing violence against women is a responsibility of everyone involved in local government ... the position we hold in our respective councils puts us on the front line of whole-of-life service delivery. This makes our role vital in preventing violence against women,” he said.

He said councils could start taking the lead in this issue by ensuring appropriate use of language in gatherings, and by speaking up when inappropriate behaviour towards women occurs in the workplace, among families or in the community.

Cr McArthur praised the City of Ballarat for also taking a strong stance against family violence.

The City of Ballarat Community Charter for the Prevention of Violence Against Women was adopted by the council in March last year. The charter was designed to help the community take a stand against violence.

Ballarat mayor John Burt has been a White Ribbon Day ambassador since 2007. He said he firmly believed that as a community, Ballarat needed to act together to eliminate violence against women.

“Each year, the City of Ballarat also supports White Ribbon Day initiatives in a range of ways, including participation in the White Ribbon Day pledge and the placement of magnets in 2012 on rubbish trucks with the message that ‘violence against women stinks’,” Cr Burt said.

kim.quinlan@fairfaxmedia.com.au