Challenging Silence

In the 1970s, the silence sourrounding sexual and domestic violence was broken and feminists demanded services to address the problem. In the 1980s, governments funded community programmes to provide services for victims. The 1990s saw a backlash against the victims of sexual violence and services provided for their support. This text assesses the state of play with sexual and domestic violence. It examines the effectiveness of current services in the context of both Australian and international law and policy. It looks at innovative developments in practice and research, and outlines strategies which are proving successful in supporting victims and addressing offenders' accountability and responsibility.