FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT 2008 - PREAMBLE

FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT 2008 - PREAMBLE

Preamble

In enacting this Act, the Parliament recognises the following principles—

(a) that non-violence is a fundamental social value that must be promoted;

(b) that family violence is a fundamental violation of human rights and is unacceptable in any form;

(c) that family violence is not acceptable in any community or culture;

(d) that, in responding to family violence and promoting the safety of persons who have experienced family violence, the justice system should treat the views of victims of family violence with respect.

In enacting this Act, the Parliament also recognises the following features of family violence—

(a) that while anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of family violence, family violence is predominantly committed by men against women, children and other vulnerable persons;

(b) that children who are exposed to the effects of family violence are particularly vulnerable and exposure to family violence may have a serious impact on children's current and future physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing;

(c) that family violence—

(i) affects the entire community; and

(ii) occurs in all areas of society, regardless of location, socioeconomic and health status, age, culture, gender, sexual identity, ability, ethnicity or religion;

(d) that family violence extends beyond physical and sexual violence and may involve emotional or psychological abuse and economic abuse;

(e) that family violence may involve overt or subtle exploitation of power imbalances and may consist of isolated incidents or patterns of abuse over a period of time.

The Parliament of Victoria therefore enacts: