You are here

Women's Safety

The National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
In immediate danger? Call 000

Introduction

According to current statistics, one in three Australian women over the age of 15 will experience physical violence, and almost one in five will experience sexual violence. Living safe and free from violence is everyone's right; reducing violence is everyone's responsibility.

To find out more information visit Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) for the fact sheet: Violence against Women: Key Statistics (ANROWS)

Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C)

Female Genital Mutilation is the deliberate cutting or altering of the female genital area. It has many names, including cutting, female circumcision and ritual female surgery.

Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of women and girls. The Australian Government recognises that FGM/C is a significant abuse of human rights, which puts the lives and health of women and girls at risk and is working to end this harmful practice.

Addressing this issue within a human rights framework ensures greater government and community involvement in the protection of girls’ and women’s rights. Evidence shows that community-based approaches aimed at preventing the practice using culturally informed dialogue with communities have shown the most promising results. Prevention education should be delivered within a holistic community-based, culturally sensitive, sexual and reproductive health context.

The Australian Government firmly believes that tradition or culture cannot be cited as a justification for the erosion of women and girls’ human rights.

Legal frameworks

The practice of FGM/C is illegal in every state and territory of Australia. This includes performing FGM/C overseas on a child that usually resides in Australia.

The legislation varies across jurisdictions in Australia, but persons carrying out, or assisting someone else to carry out FGM/C can be liable for imprisonment for up to 21 years.

If you know someone at risk, or if you’re worried that someone is at risk of FGM/C or is a victim of FGM/C contact the Police on 000.

Latest News

Australian Government investment in the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to reduce Violence Against Women and their Children

Wednesday, 06 March 2019

On 5 March 2019, the Australian Government announced investment of $328 million to support the Fourth Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan).

National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women

Womens Safety 2018 COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children

Friday, 21 September 2018

Reducing violence against women and their children through prevention, response and recovery will be the key themes of next month’s National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and Their Children.

White Ribbon accreditation

Thursday, 01 March 2018

PM&C joins 164 other workplaces across the country in being accredited as a White Ribbon Workplace.

Resources

2018-19 Budget: Women’s safety and welfare

Office for Women

Budget 2018-19 meaures committing to keep women safe at every stage of life, with new funding for critical services for women affected by violence, and online safety initiatives to ensure women are safe at home, online and at work.

Women's Workforce Participation and Women's Safety Grant Opportunity Guidelines

Office for Women

1st December 2017

The Women’s Leadership and Development Program (the Program) is funded by the Australian Government and delivers a range of projects specifically for Australian women.

COAG 2016 National Summit on Reducing Violence against women and their Children

Office for Women

The COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children was the first of its kind. It brought COAG together with practitioners, academia, survivors, business and civil society in their shared efforts to address violence against women and their children.

Australia's Eighth Report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women August 2010- July 2014

Office for Women

15th December 2016

The Australian Government is committed to creating an inclusive society where women and men have equal access to opportunities and resources and can thereby participate and contribute equally to the economic and social wellbeing of Australia.

Address by Chair of the Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children - 11 December 2015

Office for Women

11th December 2015

Address by Chair of the Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children - 11 December 2015

Programmes & Policies

2018 COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children

2018 COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children

30th October 2018

The 2018 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children (the Summit) is being held on 2-3 October 2018 in Adelaide.

COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children

COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence Against Women and Their Children

2nd October 2018

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed to take urgent collective action to reduce violence against women and their children.

The National Campaign

The National Campaign

On 20 April 2016, the $30 million national campaign to reduce violence against women and their children was launched.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022

National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan) sets out what governments are doing to reduce violence against women and their children. Its vision is that Australian women and their children live free from violence in safe communities.