Hidden Forces: Shining a Light on Reproductive Coercion: White Paper, Marie Stopes Australia 2018
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Hidden Forces Shining a light on Reproductive Coercion White Paper Acknowledgement of Country Marie Stopes Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the enduring connection to country and that Australia is, was and always will be Aboriginal land. © Marie Stopes Australia 2018 Published By Marie Stopes Australia (Marie Stopes International) GPO Box 1635, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001 Hidden Forces: Shining A Light on Reproductive Coercion: White Paper, Marie Stopes Australia 2018. For more information Jacquie O’Brien Director Public Affairs, Marie Stopes Australia [email protected] Cover design Norm Studio SEEK HELP If you, or someone you know, need help, then the following services are available to assist: 1800RESPECT is a 24 hour national sexual assault, family violence counselling line for all Australians experiencing or at risk of family violence and/or sexual assault. Call toll-free on 1800 737 732 Lifeline is a 24 hour telephone counselling and referral service, and can be contacted on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Kids Helpline is a 24 hour free counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25, and can be contacted on 1800 55 1800 or kidshelponline.com.au Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline is a dedicated contact line for Aboriginal victims of crime who would like information on victims’ rights, how to access counselling and financial assistance. Call 1800 019 120 MensLine Referral Service is a 24 service from No to Violence that offers assistance, information and counselling to help men who use family violence. Call 1300 766 491 if you would like help with male behavioural and relationship concerns or visit ntv.org.au Safe Relationships Project provides men and women who are experiencing domestic violence in same sex relationships with support, advocacy, referral and legal information. Call free number 1800 244 481 for help. Beyond Blue provides information and support to Australians to achieve their best possible mental health. They can be contacted on 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au Relationships Australia provides support groups and counselling on relationships, and for abusive and abused partners. To be connected to the nearest Relationships Australia, call 1300 364 277 (for the cost of a local call) or visit relationships.org.au Our Watch provides materials on how to report on family violence. Visit ourwatch.org.au/news-media/reporting-guidelines Page | 1 FOREWORD Everyone has a right to control their reproductive choices. In Australia, like many wealthy nations, such rights are enshrined in various laws and charters. However, many Australians do not have full control over their reproductive choices. Their choices are constrained by people in their familial and community networks or by structural forces at play in our society. Reproductive Coercion is gaining greater attention in Australia. Brave people are coming forward to share stories of their lived experience of Reproductive Coercion in order to build greater understanding of this important issue and how it has shaped their lives. For twenty months, Marie Stopes Australia has coordinated a public consultation process that has culminated in this White Paper on Reproductive Coercion. I am proud of our organisation’s leadership in bringing this issue to light. It has been made possible by the generosity of organisations and individuals across Australia who have shared their knowledge, advice and experience of advocacy on this important issue. This White Paper has emerged following a roundtable of 50 stakeholders, two phases of public submissions, comment on a draft White Paper and targeted engagement of leading academics, healthcare professionals and psychosocial specialists. We have received 84 submissions that have informed the development of this White Paper. These submissions have provided a wide spectrum of views on this complex issue. Most are supportive of the conclusions of the White Paper, some are not. We have endeavoured to respectfully take account of the views expressed in submissions to inform the development of the final White Paper. This White Paper is only one part of a broader effort to address Reproductive Coercion. However, we hope that the information presented in it can be used as a resource for those working to address Reproductive Coercion. As CEO of Marie Stopes Australia, on behalf of our staff and our clients, I would like to personally thank everyone who has contributed to this White Paper, particularly those who have shared their personal stories. Page | 2 It is encouraging to see that multiple sectors can come together and respectfully share similar and divergent views on this important subject. Thank you, Michelle Thompson CEO Marie Stopes Australia Page | 3 CONTENTS SEEK HELP .......................................................................................................................... 1 FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................ 2 ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 7 What is Reproductive Coercion? ....................................................................................... 7 Why Does RC Matter? ....................................................................................................... 7 About this White Paper ...................................................................................................... 8 Terms of Reference ........................................................................................................... 8 Consultation ...................................................................................................................... 8 Themes and Issues ........................................................................................................... 8 Recommendations............................................................................................................. 9 Next Steps ......................................................................................................................... 9 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................. 11 History of RC ................................................................................................................... 11 What is RC? .................................................................................................................... 11 Why Does RC Matter? ..................................................................................................... 12 Background to this White Paper ...................................................................................... 12 PURPOSE & SCOPE .......................................................................................................... 15 Aims ................................................................................................................................ 15 Terms of Reference ......................................................................................................... 15 APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE WHITE PAPER ......................................................... 16 Guiding Principles ........................................................................................................... 16 White Paper Consultation ................................................................................................ 17 THEMES & ISSUES............................................................................................................ 19 The need for a definition of RC ........................................................................................ 19 A definition ................................................................................................................... 20 Contextualising RC .......................................................................................................... 22 RC, IPV and SV ........................................................................................................... 22 SV and Assault ............................................................................................................ 24 Gender and RC ............................................................................................................ 25 Men’s experience of RC ............................................................................................... 26 Adolescents and young people .................................................................................... 26 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples .............................................................. 27 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People ................................................................. 29 People with a Disability ................................................................................................ 32 RC as a Public Health Issue ............................................................................................ 33 Mental Health Impacts ................................................................................................