Time for action: The National Council's plan for Australia to reduce violence against women and their children, 2009-2021

30 April 2009 | For women in Australia, sexual assault and domestic and family violence are the most pervasive human rights violations. They harm and limit the lives of a third of Australian women, and require an immediate and focused response.

The extent and range of violent actions perpetrated against women are broad. They can include offences as extreme as female genital mutilation, institutional abuse, trafficking of women, and sexual violence as a strategy in armed conflict. These are crimes and human rights abuses and must also be addressed through appropriate channels.

Time for Action: The National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2009-2021 (the Plan of Action) states that no woman should be a victim of sexual assault or domestic and family violence, and that no woman should fear for her safety at home, at work or in her community. It focuses on strategies and actions for prevention, early intervention, improved service delivery, and justice.