16 AUGUST 2024
The Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children Inquiry has missed the opportunity to address the epidemic of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is disappointed by the final report released yesterday, 15 August, that made only 10 recommendations and failed to address several significant issues.
“Aboriginal women and children continue to experience violence, abuse, oppression, coercive control, grooming and exploitation,’ said VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett. “The failure to include a recommendation around data is an alarming oversight and ongoing injustice for our women and children.”
VACCA’s submission to the Committee (December 2022) made 20 recommendations calling for greater advocacy and leadership; improved legislative reform mechanisms, data and practice; and for a police and justice system that better responds to the intersectional experience of Aboriginal women and children.
“The Committee has missed the opportunity to bring substantive change,” said Ms Bamblett. “Aboriginal women and children will remain invisible. As a nation we must acknowledge that gendered violence is only part of the problem, racism is the sole factor responsible for why Aboriginal women are murdered and missing at much higher levels at the hands of non-Aboriginal men.”
VACCA maintains that significant reform to the justice and coronial system, coupled with long-term, flexible funding and resourcing for the Aboriginal community-controlled sector is needed to bring justice to the many Aboriginal women and children who have been murdered or disappeared.
“The courts and sentencing practice are a huge missing gap in the recommendations,” said Ms Bamblett. “Recent research has shown the consequences for murdering a woman in the courts does not meet the crime. Murdering an Aboriginal woman, it feels like the courts don’t value our women.”
“There must be more accountability for racism in the systems that are meant to equally protect us all.”
- ENDS -
FOR RELEASE –
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0439 117 408 E: bethc@vacca.org
Sarah Gafforini – Director, Office of the CEO VACCA
T: 0427 621 421/ E: sarahg@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.