Queensland Numbered Acts

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT 2012 No. 5 - LONG TITLE

In enacting this Act, the Parliament of Queensland recognises the following—

1 Australia is a party to the following instruments—

-Universal Declaration of Human Rights

-United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women

-United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

-United Nations Principles for Older Persons

2 Living free from violence is a human right and fundamental social value.

3 Domestic violence is a violation of human rights that is not acceptable in any community or culture and traditional or cultural practices can not be relied upon to minimise or excuse domestic violence.

4 Domestic violence is often an overt or subtle expression of a power imbalance, resulting in one person living in fear of another, and usually involves an ongoing pattern of abuse over a period of time.

5 Domestic violence can have serious impacts on people who experience it, including physical, emotional and psychological harm, and can result in death.

6 Perpetrators of domestic violence are solely responsible for their use of violence and its impacts on other people.

7 Domestic violence is most often perpetrated by men against women with whom they are in an intimate partner relationship and their children; however, anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence.

8 Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children.

9 Children who are exposed to domestic violence can experience serious physical, psychological and emotional harm.

10 Behaviour that constitutes domestic violence can also constitute a criminal offence.