The Territory has endorsed a national plan to end violence against women and children and has committed to working with Canberrans to prevent all forms of gendered violence.
Endorsing the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette Berry said the Plan supported meaningful improvements to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and recognised that ending it was everyone’s responsibility.
“The ACT Government recognises the seriousness and prevalence of domestic, family and sexual violence in our community,” Ms Berry said.
“In the ACT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming city and we seek to ensure our community is a place where everyone can feel included and safe,” she said.
“However, we are not immune to the life long impacts of domestic, family and sexual violence.”
Ms Berry said women and children in the ACT, like those across Australia, were exposed to an unacceptably high level of violence, discrimination and inequality.
“They deserve better and we must do better,” she said.
Minister Berry said she was particularly encouraged by the National Plan’s focus on perpetrator accountability.
“The onus must always be on the people who use violence to be held accountable and change their behaviours,” the Minister said.
“Victim-survivors are not responsible for violence,” she said.
“It is through their brave advocacy that we can launch this plan to ensure our national responses to domestic, family and sexual violence are meaningful, progressive and ambitious.”
Ms Berry acknowledged the ACT community sector and frontline agencies, saying their ongoing engagement was critical.
The 143-page National Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
