Six years on from the AHRC’s Change the Course report recommendation to set up specialised bodies that tackle sexual violence on campuses, a third of universities are still failing to do so. This is according to a report How Australian Universities are Responding to Campus Sexual Violence released by the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW Sydney this morning.
Ahead of the Education Ministers’ meeting on Friday, Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the damning report by calling on the government to act urgently and force unis to tackle sexual violence.
As stated by Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of The Greens and spokesperson for Education:
“It’s no surprise universities are failing to put systems in place to address sexual violence. There is still no transparency and the culture of impunity and inaction is sickening.
“The regulator has failed. It’s abundantly clear we need a robust system that not only supports students, but also forces universities to tackle the issue, has enforcement powers and can publicly reveal which universities are dragging their feet.
“The Labor government has stalled long enough. We have the evidence, they know the solutions – it’s time for action. Every single student and staff has the right to study and work in safe and respectful environments.
“The current system of self-regulation is completely failing students and causing lasting harm to so many people. Universities are failing in both preventing sexual violence and in responding to it.
“Sexual violence remains a systemic problem at unis, with women, non-binary students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and those with a disability particularly impacted.”
