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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

A woman standing at a set of postal lockers reading mail.

Support for women affected by Domestic and Family Violence

Friday, June 2, 2017

Australia Post has expanded the free special circumstances mail redirection service to include support for victims of domestic and family violence.

COAG Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children

Womens Safety COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence Against Women and Their Children

Friday, October 28, 2016

The COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children was held in Brisbane on Friday 28 October 2016.

COAG Summit to address violence against women and their children: Connect.Act.Change

Womens Safety COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence Against Women and Their Children

Monday, October 17, 2016

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will host a National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children in Brisbane on 27 and 28 October 2016.

Resources

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

Side by Side: Women, Peace and Security

Office for Women

As a means to promote the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, the Australian Civil-Military Centre and UN Women, with the support of the Office for Women and the Australian Federal Police, produced a new documentary available on YouTube entitl

Address by Chair of the Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children - 23 July 2013

Office for Women

An address by Ken Lay, the Chair of the Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children.

Programmes & Policies

COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children

COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence Against Women and Their Children

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.