Web resource:	http://tcr.sagepub.com/content/10/1/87.abstract
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	In search of justice for domestic and family violence: indigenous and non-indigenous Australian women's perspectives
Other Titles:	Theoretical Criminology
Authors:	Nancarrow, Heather
Keywords:	Aboriginal Australians;Criminal justice responses;Indigenous issues;Restorative justice;Abused women - Australia
Population:	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	Vol. 10, no. 1
Notes:	This article presents perspectives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women from 2 Queensland taskforces that considered justice responses to violence against women. This led to 2 reports (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Taskforce on Violence Report:and the Report of the Taskforce on Women and the Criminal Code:), which in turn led to different outcomes about the appropriateness of restorative justice for domestic and family violence. Interviews with 10 Indigenous women and 10 non-Indigenous women (6 had been members of the Indigenous women's taskforce, 8 had been members of the non-Indigenous taskforce) confirmed a division between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women on restorative justice in cases of domestic and family violence. This article also gives a literature overview of feminist analyses and reforms and Indigenous women's challenges to them. It outlines the background of informal justice and criticisms of restorative justice and the criminal justice system. Indigenous women rejected the criminal justice system as an appropriate and effective response to domestic and family violence but non-Indigenous women accepted the criminal justice system as the most appropriate response even if it is ineffective. At the centre of this division is the meaning of and location of 'ownership' of domestic and family violence. Indigenous women's concept of restorative justice calls for Indigenous community ownership of justice responses to family violence as the criminal justice system does not represent the interests of Indigenous communities, and it is seen as increasing violence and reinforcing state control over Indigenous people. The primary aim for Indigenous women was to end violence against women and children through empowerment and unification rather than division of communities along gender lines. However, the non-Indigenous women perceived the state must 'own' domestic violence and their main aim was to reform the criminal justice system to achieve gender equality. The way Indigenous and non-Indigenous women prioritised justice objectives also shows that only the non-Indigenous women have put 'holding men accountable' in the top 3 priorities, and only the Indigenous women have put 'sending a message to the community that violence is wrong' and 'restoring relationships' in their top 3 priorities.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/15208
ISSN:	1362-4806
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

Items in ANROWS library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.