Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the CEDAW Committee – 12 June 2018 Recommendation 3: That the Australian Government: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Undertake specific research to understand the nature and prevalence of family and domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment for women and girls with disability, LGBTI women and girls, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls and women and girls from CALD backgrounds, and implement evidence-based policy responses to reduce violence against these groups of women. Accelerate action to reduce violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children, including targeted prevention and early intervention initiatives, which must be developed in consultation with Indigenous women, in a manner consistent with the principle of free, prior and informed consent. Ensure that subsequent Action Plans to the National Plan support prevention and early intervention initiatives and improve support for women with disability who experience violence, including in institutional and disability accommodation settings. Act on the findings the Commission’s review of Domestic Violence Death Review mechanisms in Australia, when released. 4.2 Sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace and in university settings (LOI 16) 21. The Commission’s 2012 national workplace sexual harassment survey found that 21% of people in Australia had experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15, with the majority (68%) experiencing this harassment in the workplace.24 The survey found that one-third of women (33%) had experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15, compared to 9% of men.25 22. The Commission commends the Government’s funding of the Commission’s 2018 survey, which is currently underway. As well as expanding the number of participants from 2,000 to 10,000, the survey will for the first time, provide additional data on sexual harassment within major industry sectors. Recommendation 4: That the Australian Government ensure there are adequate measures in place for the prevention of and response to sexual harassment in the workplace, with consideration of the identified strategies in the Commission’s 2012 survey report and the forthcoming outcomes of the 2018 survey. 4.3 Health and wellbeing of women and girls 23. The rate of suicide in women and girls is increasing and reached a 10-year high in 2015, at a rate of 6.1 deaths per 100,000 people. Two-thirds of intentional self-harm cases hospitalised in Australia in 2014–15 were female, with the highest number of cases occurring among females aged 15–19.26 24. Young mothers are an at-risk group who frequently experience poor life outcomes, such as poverty and long-term welfare dependency,27 poor emotional health and wellbeing,28 and inability to complete study or gain secure employment.29 The Commission draws the Committee’s attention to the 6