SUBMISSION
Inquiry into the Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024 (Cth): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
This ANROWS submission supports the intent of the Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024 (“the Bill”) to strengthen protections afforded to victim and survivors of sexual violence in Commonwealth criminal proceedings.
ANROWS provided a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Bill. The submission drew on our evidence base to highlight opportunities to strengthen support for victim and survivor safety and wellbeing in the criminal legal process. ANROWS recommended that the Committee consider how to:
- ensure victims and survivors maintain autonomy and choice throughout the criminal legal process, wherever possible
- complement legislative reform with an authorising environment for the effective implementation of reform. This could include resourcing, training and support for people working in the criminal legal process.
The submission will be of interest to policymakers, practitioners and researchers interested in addressing safety and wellbeing for victims and survivors in criminal legal processes. Although this submission focuses on these issues within the context of Commonwealth criminal proceedings, the majority of the evidence is applicable across jurisdictions.
Suggested citation
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2024). Re: Inquiry into the Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024 [Submission]. ANROWS.