New research has revealed victim-survivors support the criminalisation of coercive control and want improved justice and support services.
Coercive control is a pattern of abusive behaviour designed to exert power and dominance over another person or persons. It can involve physical and non-physical abuse and, over time, creates fear and takes away freedom and independence.
Coercive control almost always underpins family and domestic violence. Understanding and identifying these dynamics is fundamental to an effective response to family and domestic violence.
A landmark agreement by the Standing Council of Attorneys-General in September 2023 endorsed National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence which, for the first time, create a shared national understanding of coercive control.
The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has today released a national examination of victim-survivors' views on the benefits, risks and impacts of the criminalisation of coercive control. It presents findings from 130 in-depth interviews conducted with female victim-survivors of coercive control from across Australia.
The report finds that "For a number of victim survivors the criminalisation of coercive control was heralded as a key turning point with the potential to improve the safety of women and children. Overwhelmingly, victim survivors interviewed for this research expressed in-principle support for the criminalisation of coercive control as a standalone criminal offence."
Concerns were expressed regarding the limits of these laws, the capacity of police to recognise and respond to coercive control, the potential for re-traumatisation while engaging with the criminal court process, and the challenges of proving coercive control.
The Australian Government is committed to providing national leadership to improve criminal justice responses to gender-based violence.
The Parliament last month passed the Albanese Government's landmark legislation to improve the experience of victims and survivors of sexual violence in our justice system.
The Albanese Government has also asked Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to undertake an inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence which will report by 22 January 2025.
The full report is available on the AIC website .
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via the 1800RESPECT website , or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit the NTV website .
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Australian Institute of Criminology
The AIC is Australia's national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice. The AIC seeks to promote justice and reduce crime by undertaking and communicating evidence-based research to inform policy and practice.
