Recognising that the National Plan and
the Fourth Action Plan expire in 2022,
the Commission recommends that COAG
incorporates sexual harassment as a key
area for action and investment under any
future national framework to address
violence against women.
The Commission also recommends that
all Australian governments have gender
equality strategies that address sexual
harassment and recognise that sexual
harassment is driven by gender inequality
and is a form of gender-based violence.
Many states and territories have plans
for the prevention of violence against
women. However, most of these plans
do not include any specific actions to
address sexual harassment, or only do so
indirectly. The states and territories have
an important role to play in the prevention
of sexual harassment. The Commission
recommends that all state and territory
governments have strategies for the
prevention of violence against women,
modelled on Change the Story, that include
the prevention of sexual harassment as a
key area for action.
Key areas for primary prevention
Through this Inquiry, the Commission has
identified a number of areas that should
be immediately prioritised for the primary
prevention of sexual harassment.
The Commission recommends that initial
primary prevention efforts should be
focused on:
• social change strategies on sexual
harassment, including a national
campaign to increase knowledge
and change behaviours that drive
sexual harassment
• interventions that address sexual
harassment of populations at
higher risk of sexual harassment,
including those who experience
intersectional discrimination
• prevention initiatives that reach
young people, which focus on
sexual harassment as a form of
gender-based violence
• resources on workplace rights for
young people
• respectful relationships
education in schools that
includes content on sexual
harassment as a form of genderbased violence and recognises
that sexual harassment is driven
by gender inequality
• information and training for
staff and students in tertiary
education institutions that
recognises sexual harassment as
a form of gender-based violence
and provides information on
workplace rights
• guidelines and practical
measures to ensure responsible
reporting of sexual harassment
by the media.
Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces • 2020 • 25