One Australian woman dies every week as a result of domestic violence and more than 60 per cent of women who experience physical assault and 81 per cent who are sexually assaulted do not report the incidents to police.

Statistics also show us that half of all girls who grow up in abusive households will have abusive partners and 60 per cent of boys will become abusers.

Those figures alone should spark us, as a nation, into action.

We are not immune to the problem in Maitland, with reports of domestic violence-related assaults skyrocketing  across the local government area in the past year.

According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, 385 domestic violence-related assault incidents were recorded in Maitland during the 12 months to June 2013 compared with 301 the year before.

Sadly, police figures show us that domestic violence has been steadily rising across Maitland during the past two years.

Whatever the reasons, this is a cycle that must be broken.

To achieve this goal every man in is encouraged to take the White Ribbon Oath against violence directed at women.

Backbenchers from both sides of Federal Parliament united yesterday to to raise awareness about Australia’s violence against women.

A motion from Labor MP Chris Hayes calls on all Australian men to swear the White Ribbon Oath: “I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.”

Please take the oath on White Ribbon Day, November 25.