A Right to Safety - THE NEXT PHASE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S WOMEN'S SAFETY STRATEGY 2011-2022 - Respectful Relationships
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A Right to Safety art2:Layout 1 28/11/11 12:48 PM Page 1
THE NEXT PHASE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S WOMEN’S SAFETY STRATEGY 2011-2022
A
Right
to
Safety
A Right to Safety art2:Layout 1 28/11/11 12:48 PM Page 2
A Right to SAfety defineS violence AgAinSt women AS A
humAn RightS iSSue And uSeS the united nAtionS convention
on the eliminAtion of All foRmS of violence AgAinSt women
[1993] definition of violence AgAinSt women AS followS:
Any Act of gendeR-bASed violence thAt ReSultS in,
oR iS likely to ReSult in phySicAl, SexuAl oR pSychologicAl
hARm oR SuffeRing to women, including thReAtS of Such ActS,
coeRcion oR ARbitRARy depRivAtion of libeRty, whetheR
occuRRing in public oR pRivAte life.
The Office for Women acknowledges that we are on Kaurna land and pays
respect to the traditional owners of this land. All women and children and indeed
⟁ the whole community have the right to live safely, free from all forms of violence.A Right to Safety art2:Layout 1 28/11/11 12:49 PM Page 3
➻ pRemieR ’ S StAtement ➹
t oo many women suffer from violence in our
community. At a time when we encourage our
girls and young women to have the highest
ambitions and aspirations, women’s lives continue to
be lost and damaged through violence. It deeply
affects women who experience and fear it, and hurts
their children, families and communities.
It can and must stop. For this to happen, violence
against women must be everybody’s business – to
change our attitudes and culture across the
community.
But as a State Government, we have a special
responsibility. That is why we have released this
Strategy, A Right to Safety.
It builds upon on the reforms undertaken through the
Women’s Safety Strategy to improve our legislation
and services and to strengthen community
understanding of the effects of violence against
women. It has also has a stronger focus on early
intervention and prevention – to stop this violence
from occurring in the first place.
Our Government will work to ensure that all South
Australians can live free from the fear and suffering
that violence causes. And I have made a personal Hon Jay Weatherill MP
commitment as a White Ribbon Ambassador to never Premier of South Australia
commit, excuse or remain silent about violence
against women.
I encourage all South Australians to do the same –
so that our women, young and old, can live with
confidence in their own safety.
⟋
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➻ miniSteR ’ S StAtement ➹
v iolence against women is unacceptable. It is a
consequence of continuing inequality
between women and men, and it is also a
barrier to achieving equality.
As Minister for the Status for Women, I am
committed to working with our partners to ensure
that all women in South Australia can live safely and
free from violence.
Violence against women has been present in our
communities for a long time and is sadly embedded
in some of our attitudes, behaviours, and social
structures. Many incidents of violence are still ignored
or go unreported because they are deemed to be a
‘private matter’.
Government reforms to date have been focused on
strengthening our legislation and services so that
women receive a timely and respectful response.
They also aim to increase awareness that responding
to violence against women involves the whole
community. The first Women’s Safety Strategy
achievements are outlined in this publication, and
include the establishment of the Family Safety
Framework and the reform of South Australia’s
domestic violence and rape and sexual assault laws.
Our new Strategy, A Right To Safety, reaffirms our
continuing commitment to these reforms while also
focusing on addressing the factors that contribute to
violence against women, such as unequal power
relationships between women and men, gender
stereotyping and discrimination.
Respect for women is a fundamental and essential
starting point for this work, in order to effect a cultural
Hon Gail Gago MLC
change in attitudes which in turn will effect a change
Minister for the Status for Women
in behaviour.
⟁
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➻ intRoduction ➹
v iolence against women is prevalent, serious
and preventable. Women experience this
violence in public places, at work and at home
and it has a profound and devastating effect on the
women themselves, their children and families and
violence are provided in a more structured and
systematic way, through agencies sharing
information about high risk families and taking
responsibility for supporting these families to
navigate the service system. The Family Safety
the whole community. Framework [FSF] has been developed and
implemented in 11 regions across South Australia.
As part of its commitment to a safer community, the
⟷ Sustainable Economic Futures
South Australian Government released the Women’s
Safety Strategy in 2005 outlining its vision to reduce A research project to identify and document
violence against women through a more strategic and barriers and supports for women living in
comprehensive approach. situations of domestic violence whilst working or
seeking employment.
Through this Strategy significant reforms have
been implemented encompassing early
intervention and community awareness initiatives,
law reform and system improvements.
These include: ➻ A Right to Safety defines violence
⟷ Don’t Cross the Line
against women as a human rights issue
An anti-violence community awareness campaign.
In addition to the media campaign, community and used the united nations convention
groups have been funded to undertake education on the elimination of all forms of
and awareness raising with groups of young
people. violence against women [1993] definition
⟷ The Focus Schools Program of violence against women as follows:
Builds on the success of the Share Project
Any act of gender-based violence that
[2003-2005] aiming to improve the sexual health,
safety and wellbeing of young South Australians. results in, or is likely to result in
A significant component of the program focuses physical, sexual or psychological harm or
on respectful relationships.
suffering to women, including threats of
⟷ Family Safety Framework
A strategic and pro-active way of addressing such acts, coercion or arbitrary
domestic violence in South Australia. It aims to deprivation of liberty, whether occurring
ensure that services to the families most at risk of
in public or private life. ➹
⟋
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➻ intRoduction ➹
⟷ South Australia Police [SAPOL] domestic The reforms improve the response of the criminal
violence strategy justice system to rape, sexual assault and
An overarching corporate framework which domestic violence.
provides the foundation and sets a clear direction ⟷ Establishment of a position in the
for SAPOL’s response to domestic and Aboriginal Coroner’s Office
family violence. SAPOL has also developed a To research and investigate domestic violence
domestic violence policing response and related deaths.
investigation approach which aims to improve
safety for victims and hold perpetrators Women’s Safety Strategy reforms
accountable. The companion document Women’s Safety Strategy
⟷ Reform of rape and sexual assault Achievements Report 2005-2010 provides more
and domestic violence legislation information about the iniatives shown below and
Provides greater protection to victims and holds illustrates the extension of the reform agenda.
perpetrators of violence more accountable.
pRevention
SignificAnt
2008 Don’t Cross the Line public Awareness
Campaign And SuStAined
2005 Community
2009 Community Education Reduction in Education Grants
Grants violence AgAinSt and support for key
2010 Prevention activities women events
with specific sectors 2011 SASP Target White Ribbon Day
System improvement
lAw RefoRm 2006 Family Safety Framework
2008 Rape and Sexual Assault 2009 Domestic and Aboriginal
2009 Domestic Violence Family Violence Sector Reform
Intervention Orders including Staying Home, Staying
[Prevention of Abuse] 2009 Safe
2010 Integrated Response Model
including the
Abuse Prevention Program
2011 Coroners Position
⟁
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➻ c ontinuing the RefoRm AgendA And focuSing on pReventio n ➹
A
Right to Safety outlines the next phase of Men who do not perpetrate violence against women
our work to reduce violence against have a positive role to play in ending such violence,
women through the continuation and through shaping the attitudes and behaviours of
embedding of these reforms while also children and other men, including peers, colleagues
focusing our efforts on the prevention of violence and friends.
against women.
A Right to Safety recognises that violence against
women is a human rights issue and outlines South
Australia’s commitment to the National the weatherill labor government
Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and believes that:
their Children.
VicHealths Preventing Violence Before It Occurs – ➻ All forms of violence against
A Framework and Background Paper to Guide the
women are unacceptable.
Primary Prevention of Violence against Women in
Victoria1 found broad international agreement that ➻ All forms of violence including the
the key drivers of violence against women are:
threat of violence against women
⟷ unequal power relations between women
and men are fundamental violations of
⟷ adherence to rigid gender stereotypes human rights.
⟷ broader cultures of violence.
➻ women have the right to be safe
Preventing violence against women requires changes
in culture, society and social norms and involves from violence and to live free
everyone. Working with men is a critical part of this from the fear of violence.
work. While most men do not perpetrate violence
against women, violence against women is ➻ women have the right to live in a
perpetrated predominately by men.
safe community that promotes
and supports their health
and well-being.
1
VicHealth, 2007.
⟋
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➻ c ontinuing the RefoRm AgendA And focuSing on pReventio n ➹
Women and the women’s movement in particular In this work our decisions will continue to be
have led the prevention of violence against women for guided by:
many decades. They have provided the leadership ⟷ The safety, health and wellbeing of women,
and direction for significant social change and have children and young people subjected to violence
dedicated their skills, time and resources to ending must be the first priority in every response.
violence against women. ⟷ Violence against women requires a range of
A Right to Safety aims to support men and boys to responses that recognise women’s diversity,
play a more significant role in preventing violence unique backgrounds and experiences.
against women to complement and strengthen the ⟷ Those who use violence against women must
leadership women have provided to date. accept responsibility for their acts.
⟷ The promotion of gender and racial equity and the
Preventing violence against women recognises that
importance of challenging negative stereotypes
just as violence against women is a consequence of
based on disability, sexuality or ethnicity underpin
continuing inequality between men and women, it is
all responses to violence against women.
also a barrier to achieving equality. The tools available
to affect change in gender equality are therefore ⟷ The prevention of violence against women
integrally relevant to tackling violence against women. requires strong government and community
As a result A Right to Safety outlines South Australian leadership and commitment.
initiatives to address gender inequality through ⟷ Acts of criminal violence against women must be
increasing women’s participation in the workforce, in treated as such.
leadership roles and ensuring that government ⟷ Responses to violence against Aboriginal2 women
policies and programs are informed by gender will acknowledge the legacy of past failures and
analysis. the need for new collaborative approaches to
preventing violence against Aboriginal women.
⟷ Services and support for women living in regional
and remote communities are addressed in the
development of initiatives and programs.
⟷ Programs developed to respond to violence
against women should be evidence based and
subject to continuous quality evaluation.
2
The term Aboriginal is used to refer to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in South Australia.
⟁
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➻ c ontinuing the RefoRm AgendA And focuSing on pReventio n ➹
Responses to Aboriginal women will recognise:
⟷ The right to be free of family violence and live in a
safe environment.
⟷ Responses to family violence need to recognise
the diversity across Aboriginal communities.
⟷ Locally based ‘Whole of Community’ ownership of
issues and solutions.
⟷ Community development approaches at the core
of planning and implementation.
⟷ Partnership building between governments and
communities and across portfolios.
⟷ Holistic approaches when identifying and
responding to family violence.
⟷ Restoration of community harmony through
cultural, spiritual and social healing.
⟷ Recognition of our shared history and the impact
of past practices.
⟋
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➻ c ontinuing the RefoRm AgendA And focuSing on pReventio n ➹
The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against ⟷ Violence against women and their children was
Women and their Children3 outlines that: estimated to cost the Australian economy
⟷ “...nearly all Australians [98 per cent] recognise $13.6 billion in 2008-09. Without appropriate
that violence against women and their children action to address this issue, an estimated three-
is a crime,4” the prevalence of violence quarters of a million Australian women will
against women, however, continues to be experience and report violence in the period of
unacceptably high. 2021-22, costing the Australian economy an
⟷ The Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal estimated $15.6 billion.9
Safety Survey released in 2006 reported that one
in three Australian women have experienced 3
Council of Australian Governments, 2011.
4
VicHealth, 2009.
physical violence since the age of 15, and almost 5
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006.
one in five have experienced sexual violence.
6
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006.
7
Indigenous is the term used in this report to refer to Aboriginal women
according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics,5 and girls.
8
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006.
In 2005, over 350,000 women experienced 9
KPMG, 2009.
physical violence and over 125,000 women
experienced sexual violence.6
⟷ The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
reported in 2006 that Indigenous7 women and
girls are 35 times more likely to be hospitalised
due to family violence related assaults than other
Australian women and girls.8 Reported in a study
commissioned by the Commonwealth
Government in 2009.
⟁
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➻ linkAgeS ➹
i n t e R nAtionAl accountable for their actions, while also working to
prevent violence against women in the longer term.
Under the United Nation’s Convention for the
A Right to Safety outlines the reforms we will drive as
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
part of our commitment.
Women [CEDAW], Australian governments have an
international legal requirement to take: Recognising that violence against women does not
occur in isolation from other issues faced by women,
“All appropriate measures [to] modify the social
their children, families and communities; linkages with
and cultural patterns of conduct of women and
other COAG reform agendas will be strengthened.
men, with a view to achieving the elimination of
prejudices and all other practices which are Key linkages include:
based on the idea of the inferiority or the ⟷ National Partnership Agreement on
superiority of either of the sexes or on Homelessness
stereotyped roles for women and men”. Recognising the significant interaction between
women’s homelessness and domestic violence.
A Right to Safety responds directly and systematically
⟷ Protecting Children is Everyone's Business
to this obligation.
National Framework for Protecting Australia's
Children 2009–2020.
n A t i o nAl This framework is aimed at reducing child abuse
The National Plan to Reduce Violence Against and neglect in Australia over time.
Women and their Children released in February 2011 ⟷ Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage
following endorsement from the Council of Australian Working to reduce the gap in life expectancy and
Governments [COAG] brings together government life opportunities between Indigenous and non
efforts across the nation to make a real and sustained Indigenous Australians.
reduction in the levels of violence against women.
⟷ National Health Reform
The National Plan is underpinned by the belief that Working with the health sector through doctors,
involving all governments and the wider community is nurses, specialist and allied staff as they are often
necessary to reducing violence against women. an early point of contact for women who have
experienced domestic or Aboriginal family
Consistent with A Right to Safety, the National Plan
violence or sexual assault.
directs efforts to ensure our responses to victims
reflect best practice and that perpetrators are held
⟋
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➻ linkAgeS ➹
S o u t h AuStRAliA Legislative and policy changes including:
South Australia’s Strategic Plan [SASP] 2011 drives ⟷ Amendments to sexual assault rules of evidence
performance across government and the community. and rape and sexual assault legislation through
It outlines a future shaped by choice, not chance and the Criminal Law Consolidation [Rape and Sexual
expresses South Australia’s values and priorities. Offences] Bill 2008 and Statutes Amendment
[Evidence and Procedure] Bill 2007.
The plan includes a specific target to ⟷ Amendments to the Victims of Crime Act 2001
reduce violence against women. including the establishment of the Commissioner
⟳ Target 18: Violence against women for Victims Rights.
A significant and sustained reduction in violence ⟷ The passing and enacting of the Intervention
against women through to 2022. Orders [Prevention of Abuse] Act 2009.
⟷ South Australia Police’s Domestic Violence
The inclusion of this target in the Plan acknowledges
that responding to and preventing violence against Strategy.
women is complex and requires whole of government
and community involvement. This work involves Policies that aim to reduce gender
response agencies such as sexual assault services, inequity such as:
women’s domestic and Aboriginal family violence ⟷ South Australia’s Strategic Plan [SASP]
services, police, courts, corrections, health, housing Commitment to sex disaggregated data to report
and child protection. It also involves policies and on key targets.
agencies that contribute to the prevention of violence
against women through cultural and attitudinal
change regarding discrimination and inequity; to
empower women; and to promote non-violent and
equitable communities and organisations.
As a result A Right to Safety is supported by:
⟷ Anti discrimination legislation such as the South
Australian Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and the
role of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity
10
Indigenous is the term used in this document to refer to Aboriginal people.
⟁
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➻ linkAgeS ➹
SASP targets to improve women’s ⟷ Women at Work which aims to encourage women
participation in leadership roles to access training in high-demand, high growth,
⟳ Target 30: Boards and committees non-traditional industries, such as mining, defence
and construction.
Increase the number of women on all State
Government boards and committees to 50% on ⟷ South Australia’s Women’s Health Policy and
average by 2014, and maintain thereafter by Action Plan 2010 - 2011.
ensuring that 50% of women are appointed, on ⟷ Policies to promote Aboriginal health and
average, each quarter. wellbeing such as the Aboriginal Health Care Plan
2010 – 2016.
⟳ Target 31: Chairs of boards and committees
⟷ Policies addressing disadvantage, and promoting
Increase the number of women chairing State
Government boards and committees to 50% diversity and inclusion, such as Keeping Them
by 2014. Safe, the South Australian Government's program
to reform child protection services and systems;
SASP targets to improve women’s youthconnect South Australia’s Youth Strategy
2010-2014; and South Australia’s Homelessness
participation in employment
Strategy 2009 - 2013.
⟳ Target 52: Women
Have women comprising half of the public sector
employees in the executive levels [including Chief
Executives] by 2014 and maintain thereafter.
⟳ Target 13: Work-life balance
Improve the quality of life of all South Australians
through maintenance of a healthy work-life
balance.
⟋
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➻ ouR AppRoAch ➹
p A R t neRing with the community Alliance Network
Recognising the impact of violence against women
UN Women on the whole community, this network, modelled on
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly South Australia’s Strategic Plan Alliance Network, will
created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for seek to engage non-government and private sector
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. organisations to sign-up to A Right to Safety. In
Over many decades, the UN has made significant signing up, organisations will outline the way in which
progress in advancing gender equality including they will contribute to reducing violence against
through landmark agreements such as the Beijing women.
Declaration and Platform for Action and the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Supporting Regional Collaboration
Discrimination Against Women [CEDAW]. Violence Against Women Regional Collaborations will
be established across South Australia to support and
Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but
bring together service providers, advocates and
its achievement has enormous socio-economic
interested organisations to develop regional
ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving
approaches to respond to and prevent violence
economies, spurring productivity and growth.
against women. These collaborations will support
South Australia is partnering with UN Women on its organisations to prioritise issues on violence against
Towards Universal Access: Emergency Services for women through the development of Regional
Responding to Violence against Women and Girls. Alliance Plans.
This initiative aims to achieve universal access for all
women and girls who have experienced gender-
based violence to a core set of emergency and
immediate services.
⟁
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➻ ouR AppRoAch ➹
w i t h And foR eveRyone Incorporating diversity and inclusion
Violence against women occurs across the South
The Role of Men and Boys Australian community, however, some groups are less
Most men do not use violence towards women. likely to be reached by whole-of-population
Recognising this A Right to Safety seeks to engage strategies; have limited access to services or settings
non-violent men in ending violence against women, and and/or have specific needs that ‘general’ strategies
shaping the attitudes and behaviours of children and do not account for. Additionally, the women in these
other men, including peers, colleagues and friends. groups are often at increased risk of violence.
Children and young people A Right to Safety aims to prevent and respond to
violence against all women, including those who are
A Right to Safety recognises that women can
marginalised or in hard-to-reach groups. We will
experience violence across their lifespan. Many
ensure that all our strategies incorporate diversity and
attitudes, beliefs and behaviours are formed in
consider the needs of different groups.
childhood and adolescence, and this is a crucial time
to educate and build skills around gender equality For example, the issues relating to violence against
and respectful relationships. older women must be viewed in the context of an
ageing population and shifting family relationships.
A Right to Safety also recognises that physical abuse,
Similarly, where children and young people are the
emotional maltreatment, neglect, sexual abuse and
target groups, it is important that adults and community
witnessing family violence are forms of child abuse
leaders provide guidance and positive role modelling.
and neglect. In April 2009, COAG endorsed
Protecting Children is Everyone's Business - National A Right to Safety recognises the high incidence of
Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009 - violence experienced by Aboriginal women and their
2020. This framework is aimed at reducing child children, and aims to focus on ways to strengthen
abuse and neglect in Australia over time. A Right to communities to prevent violence. A Right to Safety
Safety will work together with South Australia’s recognises the role of the annual State Aboriginal
response to Protecting Children is Everyone's Women’s Gathering and will utilise these Gatherings
Business - National Framework for Protecting as key strategies to engage, support the rights of
Australia's Children 2009 - 2020 to bring about Aboriginal people and ensure that solutions are
positive change for women and their children appropriate for specific local circumstances.
experiencing violence.
⟋
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➻ ouR AppRoAch ➹
Through the State Aboriginal Women’s Gathering we Refugee and immigrant women can face language
recognise the importance of communities creating and cultural barriers to accessing services or
and building their own solutions to prevent violence. strategies. They are also more likely to be killed as a
We will support this by encouraging women to have a result of family violence.11
stronger voice as community leaders, providing
Same-sex attracted women experience both sexist
leadership opportunities for Aboriginal women and
and homophobic violence, discrimination and
supporting Aboriginal men to reject violence.
stereotyping. Some of the ‘contributing factors’ to
Women with disabilities experience violence at a violence against women [around unequal power and
significantly higher rate, and in different forms, than gender stereotyping] are shared in part with those for
other women, and they have greater difficulty in homophobic violence. To be effective, prevention
accessing support services. Women and girls with strategies need to examine issues of gender and
disabilities also experience challenges to leadership power, and explicitly challenge homophobia and
and skill development based on gender and disability gender stereotyping.
discrimination.
➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
Target Chief Executive’s Group
A significant and sustained reduction in violence This Group chaired by the Minister for the Status for
against women through to 2022. Women is responsible for:
Strengthening the capacity of agencies to respond to
New Governance Arrangements
the needs of women who experience violence and
New governance arrangements are aimed at ensuring those at risk through improving existing service
high level leadership and a strategic perspective provision and developing ‘joined up’ service provision
through a team of State Government Chief across agencies where appropriate and practical.
Executives.
11
Dimopoulos, D & Assafiri, H, 2004.
⟁
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➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
Identifying opportunities to promote A Right to Safety to Reduce Violence Against Women and their
priorities through the national reform agenda and Children and its supporting three-year Action Plans.
through significant state level policy vehicles and The Chief Executives group will be supported by four
strategies, and industry in the state. working groups aligned with our key directions.
Advancing A Right to Safety objectives through Membership will include non government organisations
strategic engagement and partnerships with and networks and government agencies.
Commonwealth Government agencies and with These new governance arrangements complement
state-level strategic leadership mechanisms. the involvement of existing partners and the building
Developing future strategic directions and priorities for of new alliances through the Alliance Network and
A Right to Safety, having regard to the National Plan violence against women regional collaborations.
miniSteR foR the StAtuS of women
chief executive gRoup
woRking gRoupS:
Prevention AlliAnce
Provision netwoRk
Protection
Perfomance
violence AgAinSt women RegionAl collAboRAtionS
⟋
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➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
Our Actions: commitment to work with the Commonwealth, State
Building on our strong foundation and Territory Governments on national priority
projects through the National Plan to Reduce
A Right to Safety focuses on continuing our reforms
Violence Against Women and their Children. Actions
and building on the current work being undertaken on
aimed at strengthening Aboriginal communities are
the prevention of violence against women. It also
included across all of our key directions.
outlines the South Australian Government’s
➻ A Right to SAfety key diRectionS ➹
pRevention pRoviSion pRotection peRfoRmAnce
outcome 3:
CROSS CUTTING ISSUE: Aboriginal communities are strengthened
nAtionAl
plAn outcome 4: outcome 5: foundAtionS foR
outcomeS Services meet the Justice responses chAnge: StRengthen
needs of women are effective woRkfoRce;
outcome 1: experiencing
violence, and their integRAte SyStemS
Communities are children outcome 6: And ShARe
safe and free from infoRmAtion impRove
Perpetrators stop
violence
their violence the evidence bASe;
and are held
outcome 2: to account tRAck peRfoRmAnce
Relationships are
respectful
⟁
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➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
Key Directions
1 1.2
pRevention Promote respectful relationships
` The prevention of violence against women
includes any law, policy, program or activity ⟷ Build on young people’s skills to develop
aimed at reducing the level, fear or impact of respectful relationships.
violence against women or changing community ⟷ Increase awareness of, and education on,
perceptions of violence against women. Prevention is
cyber-safety issues.
about stopping violence before it occurs. This
⟷ Encourage broader societal and cultural change
involves changing the social and cultural conditions
that promotes respectful relationships.
that support violence against women to occur.
⟷ Actively engage men to promote gender equality
Outcome and to speak out against violence.
⟷ Women are safe and free from violence in
1.3
Promote gender equality
South Australia.
⟷ Improve gender sensitive policy development
Actions
processes across government.
1.1
Promote and support South Australian
⟷ Improve women’s economic participation and
communities to not tolerate violence
independence.
against women
⟷ Encourage schools, community, sporting and ⟷ Develop workplace measures to support women
experiencing and escaping from domestic
business groups to prevent, respond to, and
violence.
speak out against violence.
⟷ Build primary prevention into the work of school, ⟷ Improve the participation of women, in particular
Aboriginal women, in leadership positions.
community agencies, sporting groups, local
government and business groups. ⟷ Build and support legal literacy among migrants
⟷ Change community attitudes and behaviours and refugees on Australian law and gender
equality principles.
through the Don’t Cross the Line campaign.
⟷ Promote positive media representations of
women.
⟋
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➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
2
SeRvice pRoviSion
2.2 across the service system
Ensure women are supported
There are numerous government, non-
government and community services available ⟷ Reduce the need for victims to retell their story
for women who have experienced violence. through improved information sharing and
They provide assistance and support for women to integrated case management.
move forward in their lives and reflect the diversity of ⟷ Extend the use of best practice risk assessment
women’s experiences and circumstances with a
and management frameworks to identify and
range of options.
respond to violence against women.
⟷ Improve and expand cross-agency support for
Outcome
women and children to remain safely in their
⟷ Services meet the needs of women experiencing
homes and communities while the perpetrator is
violence, and their children, through joined up
removed.
services and systems.
⟷ Increase the number of families who maintain or
secure long term safe and sustainable housing
Actions
post-violence.
2.1
Enhance the first point of contact
2.3 diversity of women
to identify and respond to needs Improve responses to the
⟷ Deliver high quality integrated national helpline and
online support services which meet national ⟷ Work with remote communities to include specific
benchmarks through the National Plan. actions in relation to violence against women in
⟷ Improve early identification of violence against community safety plans.
women through routine home visits and screening ⟷ Improve the cultural competence of mainstream
tools for antenatal, maternal and child health and specialist services.
services.
⟷ Work in partnership with UN Women on their
universal access to emergency services initiative.
⟁
18A Right to Safety art2:Layout 1 28/11/11 12:50 PM Page 21
➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
3
pRotection
3.2 and instruments
Strengthen legal frameworks
Women who experience or fear violence must
be able to seek protection and have access to ⟷ Improve cross-jurisdictional mechanisms to
effective legal remedies. The perpetrators of protect women and children through a national
violent acts against women must be held accountable approach to domestic and family violence
for their behaviour. The criminal justice system’s protection orders.
response to violence against women is pivotal to a ⟷ Adopt best practice investigation and prosecution
broad community understanding that violence against
of sexual assault and domestic and Aboriginal
women is unacceptable.
family violence.
⟷ Enhance responses to domestic violence through
Outcome
research and investigation into domestic violence
⟷ Men who use violence are held accountable and
related deaths.
supported to change their behaviour.
3.3
Intervene early
Actions
3.1
Hold perpetrators accountable ⟷ Identify potential services and settings to engage
men and boys at risk of using violence.
⟷ Implement strong domestic violence and sexual
assault legislative responses to offending.
⟷ Enforce attendance at mandatory domestic
violence and sexual assault perpetrator programs.
⟷ Through the National Plan, contribute to the
development of national minimum standards for
domestic violence perpetrator programs and
ensure programs for sex offenders continue to
adhere to evidence-based best practice.
⟋
19A Right to Safety art2:Layout 1 28/11/11 12:50 PM Page 22
➻ ouR fRAmewoRk foR Action ➹
4
peRfoRmAnce ⟷ Promote the update of multidisciplinary training for
Professional performance and accountability professionals to improve the consistency and
are critical to the success of the strategy. We responsiveness in the handling of sexual assault
are committed to reporting annually on our cases.
progress. This annual report will reflect our
4.2
Build the evidence base
commitment to the National Plan to Reduce Violence
Against Women and their Children and will provide an
overview of the implementation of key projects. Through the National Plan, we will:
Actions in this key direction are aimed at supporting ⟷ Support the establishment a National Centre of
the actions outlined in the previous key directions. Excellence to bring together existing research, as
well as undertake new research under an agreed
Outcomes National Research Agenda.
⟷ Women are safe and free from violence in South ⟷ Commence work on developing nationally
Australia. consistent data definitions and collection methods
⟷ Services meet the needs of women experiencing as part of a National Data and Reporting
violence, and their children, through joined up Framework.
services and systems.
4.3
Track our performance
⟷ Men who use violence are held accountable and
supported to change their behaviour.
Through the National Plan, we will:
Actions ⟷ Publicly report on an annual basis on the
implementation of A Right to Safety.
4.1
Strengthen the Workforce
⟷ Regularly report through South Australia’s
Strategic Plan on progress towards Target 18:
Through the National Plan, we will:
Violence against women.
⟷ Work with jurisdictions on the development of a
national workforce agenda.
⟷ Promote the uptake of multidisciplinary training for
professionals to improve the consistency and
responsiveness in the handling of family violence
cases.
⟁
20A Right to Safety art2:Layout 1 28/11/11 12:50 PM Page 23
➻ bibliogRAphy ➹
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published by Office for Women December 2011You can also read
