Protecting our women

For years and years, we are constantly made witness to the horrible crimes of men beating, abusing and raping of our beautiful women. She is a mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, a partner, a friend - a beautiful woman who didn't deserve to be beaten and berated to having their lives taken away by murder or worse, suicide.

So far in 2018, over 40 women have died from cases of domestic violence.

And it's only 7 months in.

How many more women in Australia are living in abusive situations? How many women have been beaten to an inch of their life? How many women are currently contemplating suicide because they feel worthless when they should feel strong and loved?

I get very critical of both public and charity responses when it comes to domestic violence.

Police: "She shouldn't be in the park at night by herself."

Charities: "It's all about awareness and education."

Government: "This has to stop!"

Yet, another week, another case of domestic violence.

So what do we do? Fines, AVOs, intervention orders? Jail time?

I think it's time to take one step further. I think we should start treating men who abuse women like pedophiles.

Big statement I know but think about it.

We have so much love and protection for our kids. There are laws upon laws to protect our innocent children. If a child is uncomfortable or gets abused, the pedophile is put in jail and onto a "sex offenders" register that tracks the pedophile in and out of jail.

That's what we need for men who abuse women. An "abuser" register. Slap them with an intervention order, an AVO, jail time, whatever... but put them on a register. Put them on a register to make them uncomfortable. To put them on notice. You abuse women, you're on a national abuse register. One that employers can access, heck even I can access for when my beautiful 16 year old sister one day says "I got engaged" so I can look up her future husband to make sure he's not an abuser. A register that women can access, that dating sites can access, a register that will make men uncomfortable and learn that their abusive behaviour is no longer being tolerated.

Will men like this idea? No. Probably not. Good.

It's time to put men on notice that their abusive behaviour WILL NOT BE TOLERATED ANYMORE.