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Kevin Rudd Minister for Foreign Affairs - speaks out - The Australian government’s determination to eliminate violence against women globally and in our region, in this year’s development assistance budget we’ve allocated just under a $100 million over four-years for work in this area. This funding will support services for women in our region affected by violence, including crisis services, counselling and legal support. It will include work with UN women in the Pacific to raise awareness and change attitudes to violence against women. In Australia, what we have done in recent years, because we have a domestic violence problem and a violence against women problem in Australia as well, we’ve begun a White Ribbon campaign where each male in the country is invited to take a public oath never to commit, excuse, or remain silent about violence against women in the future. I have taken this oath. Other Australian political and corporate leaders, and others in the community have taken the oath as well. Can I suggest that one simple symbolic act by men across our region is this: I’d invite all my male counterparts across Asia and the Pacific to join all men in the region taking that oath to make a stand together against gender based violence. I believe that it is an important initiative