November 2007 Volume 7, Issue 1
Special Focus Edition: Indigenous Women
The Indigenous Law Centre dedicates this Special Focus Edition to Dr Doreen Kartinyeri who passed away 3 December 2007. She was a strong Aboriginal woman and historian who fought for the rights of all Aboriginal women and worked tirelessly for Aboriginal rights in South Australia.
At the beginning of Volume 6 back in 2004 we published a special focus edition on legal and associated issues for Indigenous women. In many ways it could be said that publishing another such edition is timely. Three and a half years ago an elected representative body for Indigenous Australians still existed and strong Indigenous women – the most marginalised group – continued to advocate for a greater voice in decision making. In November of 2007 Indigenous women are still making their voices heard, albeit in a further altered political environment, and calling for timely, culturally-appropriate, and comprehensive responses to the human rights abuses that plague the daily life of so many Indigenous women.
To open the edition we provide a selection of quotes/statements from strong Indigenous women who were asked to make a comment on the leadership role that women have in their communities and in their nation. Questions of such import cannot truly be answered in such a succinct form but these responses are an indicator of the depth of power and dedication within these women.
Various themes are explored in this edition and this diversity ensures readers will gain a comprehensive overview of important issues for indigenous women in Australia and throughout the world.
The regard given to indigenous women in national commissions of inquiry, political representation and democratic participation all impact upon the daily lives of individuals and subsequently the place afforded to these women as a whole within a nation. Here we publish a number of analyses of these issues which examine the way in which indigenous women have been marginalised within political and legal systems.
One needs only look through the archives of the Indigenous Law Bulletin (and its predecessor, the Aboriginal Law Bulletin) to see the efforts of indigenous women to establish effective and appropriate responses to family violence and to child indigenous sexual assault. The virtue of evidence-based approaches are examined in this edition as is the use of tradition and cultural influences as the foundation of effective healing programs to comprehensively deal with these problems and provide true justice for victims.
Archives of the ILB from Volume 1, Issue 1 (1981) to 6 (19) 2006 are available online at <http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AboriginalLB> and <http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ILB/>.
Special Focus Edition: Indigenous Women
Strong Indigenous Women Speak on Leadership
Indigenous Women and the RCIADIC - Part I
by Dr Elena MarchettiJustice as Healing: Developing Aboriginal Justice Models to Address Child Sexual Assault
by Hannah McGladeThe Emergency Response to Family Violence in the Northern Territory: Where’s the Evidence?
by Heather NancarrowEverything in Context: Indigenous Women, International Human Rights Law and Discrimination - Is International Human Rights Law the Way Forward?
by Kerensa JohnstonThe Challenges of Indigenous Women in Liberal Democracies
by Megan DavisEthnic Minorities in Vietnam
by Samantha JospehSurviving Justice: Family Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Sexual Assault in Remote Aboriginal Communities in NSW
by Rene Adams and Yasmin HunterRe-Victimisation of the Victim: Family Violence Issues facing Indigenous Women in Cape York
by Rowena Medland
Regular
Recent Happenings November 2007