Key step towards reducing violence against women
Australian governments have today reiterated their commitment to working together to reduce violence against women and their children with the release of the plan to implement the latest stage of this national strategy.
The Australian, State and Territory Governments have now all agreed to the National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan Building a Strong Foundation (2010-2013) of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
The Minister for the Status of Women, Julie Collins, said this is the first of four three-year implementation plans that will deliver the 12-year-long National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
“This first implementation plan will assist the non-government sector deliver improved services to reduce violence,” Ms Collins said.
“The plan in particular targets primary prevention, improving service delivery and building an evidence base.
“This first implementation plan sends a clear message about what governments will do as key national priorities over the first three years of the 12-year National Plan.
“An important step of this implementation plan is to generate discussion around violence against women, raise awareness and encourage communities to find local solutions to prevent violence.
“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three Australian women since the age of 15 has experienced physical violence and one in five has experienced sexual violence – this situation is unacceptable and must be changed.
“Eradicating violence against women and their children is a key priority for the Australian Government.
“We have committed $86 million to National Plan initiatives and we have already made some significant achievements under the National Plan,” Ms Collins said.
National Plan initiatives include:
- the innovative The Line social marketing campaign, which encourages young people to think about what is acceptable behaviour in a relationship
- 1800RESPECT, the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Family Violence Counselling service
- 32 Respectful Relationship projects aimed at stopping violence from happening in the first place through education programs
- 17 Community Action Grants to support community-based activities that prevent, respond to, and speak out against violence against women.
“I look forward to continuing to work with State and Territory Governments and the non-government sector to implement the National Plan and reduce violence against women and their children in Australia,” Ms Collins said.