The crisis of the murdered and missing First Nations women on Four Corners

How Many More? The crisis of the murdered and missing First Nations women  

“It’s a Black woman gone missing, disappeared off the face of the Earth and no one could locate her. They didn’t care. They didn’t care.” Relative of missing Indigenous woman

In Australia Aboriginal women are among the most victimised groups in the world, murdered up to 12 times the national average. Their deaths rarely make the headlines.

“I’m talking about a national silence when it comes to the murders of First Nations women.” Friend and colleague of murdered Aboriginal woman

On Monday Four Corners features a special investigation into Australia’s murdered and missing Indigenous women.  The story is reported by the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs Editor Bridget Brennan. For the first time on Four Corners three First Nations women have come together to investigate a national crisis. Bridget Brennan, a Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman is joined by producer Suzanne Dredge, a Wiradjuri woman, researcher Brooke Fryer, a Dharawal woman and Queensland Journalist of the Year Stephanie Zillman. In the absence of any official data, their research reveals for the first time the staggering number of Indigenous women who have been murdered in the last two decades.

“This is a serious human rights violation. We call it Indigenous femicide.” Human rights advocate

The program tells in detail the stories of three Aboriginal women, and the events which led to their shocking deaths. Bridget Brennan and the team examine the cries for help that went unheard and investigate the appalling lack of resources for women at risk of domestic violence. 

“We are still responding to domestic violence as though they’re one-off incidents. No one is looking at that full pattern and nobody is then managing that risk.”  Gender-based violence researcher

The Federal Government has announced a plan to end violence against women and children within one generation. With Indigenous women most at risk there are hopes the plan will deliver on its promise.

“Enough is enough, we’re all sick of hurting, sick of crying and we’ve all literally had enough.” Relative of murdered indigenous woman

It is replayed on Tuesday 25^th October at 11pm and Wednesday 26^th October at 10am. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEDT, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners

FOUR CORNERS: HOW MANY MORE? – Monday 24^th October 2022 at 8:30pm on ABC TV and iview

Media Release – ABC