'We cannot end violence against women without addressing the cultural drivers which normalise and fuel it.'

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November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It marks the first of 16 days of activism to raise awareness about male violence against women and amplify the global call to end it.

In our decade of work to end sexual exploitation we’ve repeatedly highlighted the links between a culture which glamourises violence against women - in advertising, marketing, products, music and film - and societal attitudes which tolerate it. We cannot end violence against women without addressing the cultural drivers which normalise and fuel it.

"We’ll be working closely with our suppliers to ensure this does not happen again."

Target and Kmart have pulled video game Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) off shelves over controversy about the game’s depiction of violence against women.

The stores responded to a change.org petition that gained more than 44,000 signatures.

“It’s a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get ‘health’ points – and now Target are stocking it and promoting it for your Xmas stocking,” the petition said.

After Target pulled the game from stores, Kmart followed suit and issued a statement saying, “Following a significant review of all content in Grand Theft Auto Games Kmart has taken the decision to remove this product immediately… Kmart apologises for not being closer to the content of this game.”

Thank you for helping make this win for women and girls possible!

Update from Nicole:

4 Dec 2014 — Great news – we've won! Target (and breaking news: Kmart now too!) have pulled Grand Theft Auto 5 from shelves across the country in response to our 40,000-strong change.org petition.

Here's the response from Target Australia: https://www.change.org/p/target-withdraw-grand-theft-auto-5-this-sickening-game-encourages-players-to-commit-sexual-violence-and-kill-women/responses/25511

The petition win is all over the media right now: on ABC News, news.com.au, Sunrise, Guardian Australia, Herald Sun, even reaching international outlets like AP, Forbes, UK's Telegraph newspaper and others!

This is a huge win. For years, games like Grand Theft Auto have got away with this in-game misogyny and sexual violence.

It's games like this that normalise rape and sexual violence. You've helped send a message to family retailers and brands that their consumers have had enough, and they've started listening.

We're now asking outlets like Big W and Woolworths whether they're going to stand up against Grand Theft Auto's violence against women as well.

Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/BIGWaustralia
https://www.facebook.com/woolworths

Thank you again. All 40,000+ of you!

Nicole

Now confirmed - Kmart pulls GTA 5 from shelves. 

Grand Theft Auto 5 fuelling the epidemic of violence against women, say survivors in petition signed by over 40,000 people.

[UPDATE] Target and Kmart have pulled the game from sale, will Big W do the same? 

Rushing kids into adulthood

Click image to watch the segment on Today Tonight [Video no longer available]

In one of the fastest responses to consumer complaints that we’ve seen, Kmart has withdrawn a range of underwear with sexualised slogans and issued an apology assuring customers they will not repeat the same mistake.

New video game encourages players to strip and spank each other

Collett Smart, child/adolescent psychotherapist and member of Collective Shout discusses the new game, 'We dare,' designed for adults, but available for children. Collett also writes for her blog, The Tween Factor.