Gender equality helps prevent violence against women and girls and makes our communities safer and healthier. It is a human right and it is good for the economy. Gender inequality is a root cause of violence against women. The four main drivers of violence against women are: condoning violence against women, men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence, rigid gender roles and stereotypes, and male relationships that emphasise aggression and disrespect towards women. The best way to prevent violence against women is to promote gender equality. Gender equality is good for the economy. Every day that we fail to deliver gender equality, we pay the price. For example, Australia’s GDP would increase by 11% if the gender employment gap was closed. Family violence costs the Victorian economy more than $3.4 billion a year and takes up 40% of police work. Women do most unpaid care work. This has major costs - the unpaid care economy in Australia is nearly six times larger than the paid economy.
