Donate your old mobile phone to help a victim of domestic violence.
Devastatingly, new data from domestic violence support charity shows demand for help is showing no signs of slowing down, with a 29% increase in people helped by their services since this time last year.
In this digitally dependent society, sadly technology is often used to control and manipulate victims of domestic violence, with mobile phones commonly misused by perpetrators for tracking via spyware or location services. In fact, shockingly, over half (57%) of DV victims report their phones and text messages are checked without their consent ‘all the time’.
Almost every Australian relies on a smartphone in everyday life, from phone calls and text messages to health tracking and digital payments. Being without access to a safe, private smartphone makes it increasingly challenging for victims of domestic violence to break the cycle of abuse. In fact, over two in three (70%) women who experienced abuse had never separated from a violent partner, often due to financial dependency and a lack of independence because of coercive control.
Domestic violence affects a staggering one in four (27%) Australian women and one in eight (12%) Australian men. Ashton Wood, Founder and CEO of not-for-profit DV Safe Phone says the provision of a safe smartphone is not simply a means of communication but an essential lifeline to help DV victims break the cycle and exit an abusive relationship safely.
With over 22.3 million redundant mobile phones gathering dust in drawers and cupboards, ending up in landfill, DV Safe Phone is on a mission to give them, and DV victims, a new life by supplying them to domestic violence agencies across Australia.
Ashton Wood says, “Since we began, we have repaired, repurposed and gifted over 10,000 mobile phones to domestic violence victims through our agency partners (DV agencies, police stations, hospitals and safe houses) across the country.”
Businesses can make a real impact this 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (25 November – 10 December).
DV Safe Phone, is encouraging individuals to speak to decision makers at their workplace to champion safety and awareness for domestic violence victims and taking the opportunity to fulfil ESG commitments, while creating a safe place for understanding and support for domestic violence in the workplace.
To find out more about how individuals and workplaces can get involved, head to https://dvsafephone.org/.