ANU brings a displacement and migration focus to the Centre of Excellence on the Elimination of Violence against Women
The Coral Bell School's research on violence and displacement, led by Professor Bina D'Costa has been showcased as one of six university partnerships in the Centre of Excellence on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW). The centre was officially launched on 3 December, with a dynamic symposium held on the traditional lands of the Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. It is the first centre in the world to address the full range of forms of gender-based violence across Asia and the Pacific.
Professor D’Costa, who is a human rights and migration scholar, joined the launch panel discussion on “Infrastructure for Prevention” with Sara Davies, Asher Flynn, Sarah Wendt, Sri Wiyanti Eddyono and Sujata Tuladhar. She provided insights into the constraints and enablers of violence in forced migration settings, including for those who are stateless. She also highlighted the challenge, joy and necessity in foregrounding the intersection of theory, practice and community building – and the opportunity in elevating oppressed voices.
Research from ANU contributes to a broader examination of the different contexts in which violence happens. It tackles difficult topics of racism, colonialism, extreme violence and exploitation and benefits from the trust, interest and instincts of a warm and diverse network of Global South scholars, advocates and practitioners working in academia, refugee-led and humanitarian aid organisations.
CEVAW Research Fellow Dr. Zoe Bell and community-based researcher Ms.Sajeda Bahadurmia (Co-chair of the refugee-led grassroots organisation Australian Rohingya Women's Development Organisation (ARWDO) also contributed to the symposium. A poster presentation provided an overview of research highlighting lived experiences of Rohingya women and girls in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. A short film showcasing part of the project’s approach and partnership with ARWDO was included.
Going beyond robust contributions to academia, the centre is priming for far-reaching research uptake. Producing user-friendly briefs, webinars, tools and media content it also aims to mobilise everyone to focus on scalable and effective action. It is a web of actors working together: government, those delivering services for women, grass-roots advocates, Indigenous policymakers and intergovernmental organisations. Close partnerships are key to making an impact. So too, the feminist investigators remind, is the way in which the research is supported, designed and conducted.
CEVAW is a significant seven-year Australian Research Council investment in building-up evidence to help combat violence against women. The launch championed the collective commitment to “three Is:” Interdisciplinary, Indigenous-centred, and Indo-Pacific engaged, which includes privileging First Nations knowledge and survivor-stories as part of evolving methodologies.
In addition to D’Costa, the centre hosts 13 Chief Investigators from different disciplines. Bronwyn Carlson , Sara Davies, Jane Fisher , Sarah Wendt, Heather Douglas , Cathy Humphreys Kyllie Cripps, Astghik Mavisakalyan , Patrick O'Leary , Asad Islam, Asher Flynn and Jacqui True collaborate across universities and with over 50 partners, supported by Dr. Lisa Hutton‘s team of operational and professional staff. An exciting testament to the power of working together to make a difference.
The Centre was officially opened by its Director Jacqui True, the Assistant Minister for Women, Ageing, and Social Security, Hon Kate Thwaites MP and the Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Tristan Kennedy, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sharon Pickering of Monash University. Over 150 guests were welcomed to country at the launch by Boonwurrung Woman and First Nation Traditional Owner and Custodian of Naarm, Aunty Caroline Martin, (Biik Bundjil). She performed a Smoking Ceremony together with Yorta Yorta/Boon Wurrung man, Josef Tye who is the Director of Indigenous Innovation and Experience Programs to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Experiences at Monash University.
For details about the Centre, visit: https://cevaw.org/
For inquiries, contact:cevaw@anu.edu.au