Preventing violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is driven by the ongoing impacts of colonisation, alongside gender inequality. To prevent this violence, we must address these drivers.

What causes violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women?

Changing the picture shows that while here is no single ‘cause’ of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, there are 3 underlying drivers:

the ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities – including racial discrimination, the intergenerational impacts of dispossession and the forced removal of children, the interruption of cultural practices that mitigate against violence and ongoing economic exclusion

the ongoing impacts of colonisation for non-Indigenous people and society – including the ways non-Indigenous Australians benefit from the ongoing impacts of colonisation through their access to power, privilege and resources

factors relating to gender inequality.

Preventing violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Responding to current extreme levels of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is critical. But to prevent this violence from happening in the first place, we need actions that directly address its three underlying drivers.

Address the legacies and ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

To do this, initiatives need to look at:

healing the impacts of intergenerational trauma and strengthening culture and identity

strengthening and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

increasing access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Address the legacies and ongoing impacts of colonisation for non-Indigenous people

To do this, initiatives need to look at:

challenging and preventing all forms of racism, indifference, ignorance and disrespect towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures – including in your conversations with others

addressing discrimination and oppression our systems – including through advocacy for legal and policy reform

challenging the condoning of violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, through things like media reporting.

Address the gendered drivers of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

To do this, initiatives need to look at:

challenging the condoning of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women by challenging both racist and sexist attitudes and social norms

supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s participation in leadership and decision making

challenging gender stereotypes, and the impacts of colonisation on men’s and women’s roles, relationships and identities

strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships between women and men, girls and boys.

Webinar: Media reporting

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