Time for Action On Same-Sex Domestic Violence Li Zhou, Policy Advisor

Background 2007 election promise to establish national council of experts: National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. Time for Action: The National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009) Four stages of implementation: 2009-2012, 2012-2015, 2015-2018, 2018-2021

2007 election promise to establish national council of experts: National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.

Time for Action: The National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009)

Four stages of implementation: 2009-2012, 2012-2015, 2015-2018, 2018-2021

Key Outcomes of Time for Action Communities are safe and free from violence Relationships are respectful Services meet the needs of women and their children Responses are just Perpetrators stop their violence Systems work together effectively

Communities are safe and free from violence

Relationships are respectful

Services meet the needs of women and their children

Responses are just

Perpetrators stop their violence

Systems work together effectively

Social Inclusion Recognise diversity in women and their experiences Principle of equality Explicitly acknowledges domestic violence in lesbian relationships Promotes an intersectional approach in understanding and responding to sexual and domestic violence

Recognise diversity in women and their experiences

Principle of equality

Explicitly acknowledges domestic violence in lesbian relationships

Promotes an intersectional approach in understanding and responding to sexual and domestic violence

Gaps in Inclusion Excludes domestic violence in gay male relationships Excludes violence on the ground of sexuality or gender identity (hate crimes) Does not recognise the unique aspects of same-sex domestic violence

Excludes domestic violence in gay male relationships

Excludes violence on the ground of sexuality or gender identity (hate crimes)

Does not recognise the unique aspects of same-sex domestic violence

Inconsistent Inclusion Sexuality sporadically included in Time for Action Recommendations are less likely to explicitly include the dimension of sexuality Government response so far have not addressed the sexuality aspects of violence and domestic violence

Sexuality sporadically included in Time for Action

Recommendations are less likely to explicitly include the dimension of sexuality

Government response so far have not addressed the sexuality aspects of violence and domestic violence

Opportunities to include General principles Staged implementation Proposals for new programs and institutions COAG to develop National Action Plan Building evidence base

General principles

Staged implementation

Proposals for new programs and institutions

COAG to develop National Action Plan

Building evidence base