CANBERRA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has committed funding to almost double the number of safe spaces across the country for women and children escaping domestic violence888starzcasino.
Amanda Rishworth, minister for social services, on Tuesday announced the government will fund 19 new projects that will provide 720 new emergency accommodation places for victims of domestic violence within three years.
It will take the total number of emergency accommodation places delivered under the government's safe spaces program to approximately 1,500.
Rishworth said in a statement that the new projects would have a focus on improving access to emergency accommodation for indigenous women and children, women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women and children with disabilities.
"Family and domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness and housing uncertainty for women and children across Australia, and we know there is an increased demand for emergency accommodation," Rishworth said in a statement.
The program is part of the government's 10-year plan to end violence against women and children.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 23 percent of Australian women aged 15 and over have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
Protests were held around Australia in April demanding an end to gender-based violence following a wave of high-profile incidents.
In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed 925 million Australian dollars (623.5 million U.S. dollars) in funding over five years for a new leaving violence program, under which women escaping violent relationships are eligible to access up to 5,000 AUD (3,370.5 U.S. dollars) in financial support.■