Domestic violence: Rachelle Yeo's father urges men to address 'national human rights disaster'

Updated May 06, 2014 08:24:42

The father of Rachelle Yeo, a young Sydney woman murdered by her former partner, says violence against women is a "national human rights disaster", and it is time for men to take the lead in tackling it.

Roger Yeo, a former finance executive, is now a campaigner for White Ribbon Australia, a male-led organisation that asks men to sign a pledge, vowing never to commit, excuse or remain silent on violence against women.

"It's unfortunate that things have to happen to people personally before they react and become passionate about an issue," Mr Yeo said.

"And of course something terrible has happened to us, and it's become important that we speak out."

Mr Yeo's only daughter was stabbed to death at her Sydney unit in 2012. Paul Mulvihill was recently sentenced to 29 years in jail for her murder.

The case was one of several high-profile domestic murders that have captured the public's attention in recent times.

Mr Yeo believes the interest is because both his daughter and her killer were "ordinary, not a movie star but not underprivileged either".

Mr Yeo spoke exclusively to the ABC as part of a series on domestic violence. His interview airs tonight in the 7pm news.

The death of a woman 'who took action'

In many ways, Rachelle did not fit the stereotype of a domestic violence victim.

A confident, sporty young woman, she had a wide circle of friends and family and was aware of her rights.

"She has a community of people who would describe her as the life of the party, a leader among women," her father said.

"Quite a strong personality. Certainly one you would have assumed could well look after herself."

When Rachelle's relationship with Mulvihill turned bad, her father says she took action.

"She initially tried to distance herself from the relationship," Mr Yeo said.

"She changed jobs, she changed cities. She moved to a place where she attempted not to be found.

"She did everything she could have done. She spoke with police, with counsellors, with her employers."

But it was not enough to save her. Mulvihill tracked her down and killed her.

Men, not system, need to change: Roger Yeo

Mr Yeo does not believe there was any part of the system - from the police to the legal system - which let his daughter down.

What needs to change, he says, are the social attitudes which drive men's violence against women. And the only people who can make those changes, he says, are men.

Why isn't [domestic violence] recognised as a national disaster and why aren't we doing something to stop it?

Roger Yeo

"Absolutely, this is a men's issue. If men won't participate in it, it won't happen," he said.

"It's not something women can insist on happening, or that governments can legislate. Men have to take charge of themselves."

And he says that starts with the men who run the country.

"If there were 70 coward punch deaths in Kings Cross in a given year, the army would come out to impose martial law," Mr Yeo said.

"If there was a shark attack death every week, we'd net the country.

"So when you learn there's a woman, or more than one woman, being killed every week by a partner, why aren't we doing something about it?

"Why isn't it recognised as a national disaster and why aren't we doing something to stop it?"

While Mr Yeo and his wife Kathy will never recover from the loss of their daughter, he says they find purpose in speaking out about the issue of men's violence against women.

"If one man thinks about it and does something positive - perhaps takes the White Ribbon pledge, maybe talks to his son or his mates, or intervenes in a conflict - then I'll have achieved everything I set out to do."

And in doing so, Mr Yeo hopes to honour his daughter and all other women who have lost their lives to violence.

"I want to ensure that what happened to Rachelle doesn't get forgotten. Too often people say 'what a tragedy', then continue on with their daily routine until another one happens," he said.

"We have to remember every death, in order to learn from them.

"Remember them, and honour them."

Topics: domestic-violence, community-and-society, crime-prevention, law-crime-and-justice, australia

First posted May 06, 2014 08:17:12