The Department of Justice and Attorney-General has prepared a new whole-of-Government Action Plan aimed at preventing and responding to all forms of sexual violence in the community.
Announcing the Action Plan in Parliament during Sexual Violence Awareness Month, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman said everyone deserved to live in a society free from the threat of sexual violence.
“In October 2019, we launched Prevent. Support. Believe. Queensland’s Framework to Address Sexual Violence and now we are launching the Action Plan that sets out our new and continuing initiatives to end sexual violence in Queensland,” Ms Fentiman said.
“Despite the impacts of COVID-19, we have continued our efforts to implement strategies outlined in the Framework.
Ms Fentiman, who is also the Attorney-General, said the strategies included the implementation of respectful relationships education in schools; establishment of police sexual violence liaison officers; creation of a new offence of failure to report child sexual abuse; and additional funding for services to meet the increased demand since the pandemic.
“The new Sexual Violence Prevention Action Plan 2021-2022 builds on this work and sets out our plan to promote respect in our communities, support victims and hold perpetrators to account,” she said.
Ms Fentiman said these actions would come to nothing if it were not for the incredible frontline workers who provided assistance to victims across Queensland.
The 13-page Action Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
