54 reasons welcomes the final report from South Australia’s Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. In particular, we endorse the strong acknowledgment that children and young people are victim-survivors in their own right, and encourage the State government to put children and young people’s experience and rights at the heart of any reform.
While the impact of violence on children is often hidden,complex and varied, the report is a significant step forward in recognisingtheir unique lived experience.
Vicki Mau, 54 reasons Executive Director says, “We know that domestic and family violence has a significant impact on children’s health, wellbeing, learning and development. It undermines the most fundamental foundations for a child’s life, including their family, their relationships, their housing and their safety.
“54 reasons also welcomes the report’s recommendation to establish a Lived Experience Advisory Network for children, as well as the creation of accessible domestic and family violence information platforms that are co-created with children and young people.
Children and young people have the right to protection from all forms of physical or mental violence, abuse, neglect, maltreatment or exploitation while in the care of any adult who has responsibility for them.
“We are encouraged by the South Australian Government’s decision to immediately adopt a few of the recommendations put forward by the report, and we urge it to continue to prioritise children and young people in all reforms. That means listening to them, understanding the specific ways they experience violence, recognising their resilience, and putting their rights and needs at the centre of response and prevention.
“This is a great opportunity for the State government to design responses and services that uphold children’s rights and meet their individual needs, such as the provision of services, supports and accommodation that are designed for, and with children and young people.”
54 reasons acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land on which we work, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their lore, and to their Elders past, present and emerging.
54 reasons is a proudly inclusive organisation and an ally of the LGBTIQ+ community.
