Lobbying
Bravehearts has an active involvement in policy and legislation development that aims to prevent, respond to, and ultimately reduce the incidence of child sexual assault in our communities, through concerted campaigns at the local, state and national levels.
We believe that to make a difference in child protection, there needs to be an holistic approach. We take the position that in order to effectively work towards preventing child sexual assault, issues concerning both the survivor and the offender need to be considered.
As an organisation, Bravehearts proudly lobbies for effective system and legislative changes to ensure the safety and protection of our children and communities.
We will regularly post information here on our various campaigns and their outcomes.
Submissions
Over the years, Bravehearts has actively participated in legislative review and reform, has been involved in public debate on issues surrounding the sexual assault of children and has been a contributor to both government and non-government inquiries and reviews.
Submission to the Attorney General's Department, Family Law Branch. Family Law Amendment (Family Violence) Bill 2010. Exposure Draft (Jan 11, 2011) Read the full paper
Submission to the Select Committee on Child Protection (Tas): Issues for consideration in reviewing Tasmania's Child Protection System (Nov 2010)
Read the full paper
Submission to the Child Rights Taskforce. NGO Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Dec 17, 2010)
Read the full paper
Submission to the Senate Legal & Constitutional Committee. Inquiry into the Film and Literature Classification Scheme (Feb 4, 2011)
Read the full paper
Submission to the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs Branch, Dept of Health & Ageing (Feb 10, 2011)
Read the full paper
Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice & Community Safety (ACT) Inquiry into the Operation of the Prostitution Act 1992 (Feb 24, 2011)
Read the full paper
Brief Submission to the External Legal Review of Allegations of Abuse in Defence (June 16, 2011)
Read the full paper
Balancing Rights: Arguments for the Continuing Detention of Dangerous Sex Offenders
The following is an amended version of a paper presented by the authors at the Sentencing 2008 Conference held by the National Judicial College of Australia (held 8-10 February, 2008, Canberra). On 18th March 2010, a determination was made by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in relation to submissions made by Robert John Fardon and Kenneth Davidson Tillman, two child sex offenders detained under continuing detention legislation in Queensland and New South Wales respectively. The United Nations Human Rights Committee found Fardon and Tillman's continued detention was in violation of Article 9, paragraph 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In light of this determination, Bravehearts has amended the original version of this paper to provide a response to the Committee's objections to the legislation
The Sexualisation of Children in Australia (2008)
The following is a copy of Bravehearts submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Sexualisation of Children in the Contemporary Media Environment. The issue of the sexualisation of children has been of major concern to Bravehearts for some time. The proliferation of sexual images and sexual content in popular culture has dangerously expanded into childrens merchandise and advertising. This submission considers each of the three areas under the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.
The Holy See and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Australia (2005)
This submission focuses on the sexual assault and sexual exploitation of children in Australia by members of the Catholic clergy and religious, and specifically how the laws of the Holy See impact on States compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Much of the material presented suggests that the Catholic bishops of Australia are still failing to act in an appropriate manner in respect of their dealing with offending priests and religious and in the responding in meaningful ways to the victims and survivors. (Bravehearts Inc was invited by Catholics for Free Choice to prepare this submission. Bravehearts in turn invited Dr Wayne Chamley from Broken Rites to assist with its preparation)
The Need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Sexual Assault of Children in Australia (2005)
Calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sexual assault of children in Australia have been growing for many years but have so far been denied by the Commonwealth Government. At various times over the years, in response to immediate crises in areas of child protection, the Commonwealth have called on the States and/or Territories to hold a Royal Commission into child sexual assault. At other times, the States and/or Territories have called on the Commonwealth to do the same. The political will for a combined effort is yet to materialise.
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