Peel Multicultural Association host domestic violence presentation

It's a story that Virginia Pitts, president of the Peel Multicultural Association hears all too often.

With a background in case work specifically for migrant women, Ms Pitts is passionate about advocacy and human rights, and has been fighting for them for many years.

The Peel Multicultural Association is a Mandurah-based charity, which offers help and support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

While connecting with migrant women seeking the organisation's services, Ms Pitts started to notice a disturbing pattern emerging.

"I started having clients come to me for assistance with different levels of domestic violence," she said.

"We had a few ladies who ended up having to get out because they feared for their lives."

Ms Pitts said the women would often report their partners were threatening to cancel their sponsorship and send them out of the country if they spoke out about or tried to escape the abuse.

"It is difficult for them - they will say their partners threatened to cancel their sponsorship or try and throw them out - sometimes there are children involved.

"I tell them to fight back and stay here with their children."

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The first thing that became starkly clear to Ms Pitts was the sadness and fear the women felt when they reached out to her.

"These women are bullied, they are intimidated - and their partners will often twist and manipulate the story until they end up blaming themselves for everything," she said.

"With someone telling them they are 'good for nothing' enough over the years, they start to believe them."

In late 2020, when Ms Pitts heard the story of a mother, who was a beloved member of the Filipino community, who was murdered by a man known to her, she realised how dangerous this issue could become.

"You hear stories like this and somehow the women are still blamed - how does that happen? It's so bad - most of the perpetrators blame the victims and tell them it's their fault."

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Ms Pitts realised there was an urgent need for access to legal advice and information for the women who were seeking her assistance.

"A lot of women say they don't know what to do in the legal aspect - I don't have a legal background, so all I can do is report and offer them support.

"Even when they go to family court - if they don't have a good lawyer they don't know about their rights, especially when they have been intimidated."

The need for legal clarity led Ms Pitts to an idea, she would organise a free seminar on domestic violence and legal rights, that would be hosted by a local lawyer.

"I want these women and any organisations who are working with the community to come along and gain knowledge," Ms Pitts said.

"A solicitor, Alan Gomes, will be giving a talk. I want those who are directly experiencing this to know what their rights are. They can get support and they can fight back."

The event will take place on Saturday, June 19 from 11am - 1pm at The Parents Place, Mandurah.