LANDMARK DAY FOR JUSTICE FOR AUSTRALIANS WITH DISABILITIES
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) applauds the Federal Government’s establishment of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disabilities. “This is a landmark day for Australians with Disability. Justice for those affected will finally be upheld” Kerry Weste, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights remarked.
“The establishment of the Royal Commission signals to the disability community that they will be heard and serves as a warning to the general public that abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation of people with disability will not be tolerated. ALHR welcomes The Terms of Reference, which require the Commission to examine what government, institutions and the community should do to better prevent and protect people with disability from violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation. It sets a visionary agenda where people with disability will be able to live safely in Australia for the first time in history.” said Ms Weste.
The Royal Commission will span over three years and cost $527 million. As such, Ms Weste highlighted, “This process of justice for people with disabilities will be lengthy. It is absolutely critical that people with disability receive adequate and appropriate support from the Government in order to go before the Commission and tell their stories. This Commission is about those stories.”
“ALHR hopes this marks the beginning of a new era when the rights of persons with disabilities living in Australia are respected and protected in line with Australia’s international legal obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and justice is realised for the many victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation.”
Contact: Matt Mitchell, ALHR media manager 0431 980 365.