Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld)

Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012

An Act to provide for protection of a person against violence committed or threatened by someone else if a relevant relationship exists between the persons

Preamble In enacting this Act, the Parliament of Queensland recognises the following— 1 Australia is a party to the following instruments— • Universal Declaration of Human Rights • United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child • United Nations Principles for Older Persons. 2 Living free from violence is a human right and fundamental social value. 3 Domestic violence is a violation of human rights that is not acceptable in any community or culture and traditional or cultural practices can not be relied upon to minimise or excuse domestic violence. 4 Domestic violence is often an overt or subtle expression of a power imbalance, resulting in one person living in fear of another, and usually involves an ongoing pattern of abuse over a period of time. 5 Domestic violence can have serious impacts on people who experience it, including physical, emotional and psychological harm, and can result in death. 6 Perpetrators of domestic violence are solely responsible for their use of violence and its impacts on other people. 7 Domestic violence is most often perpetrated by men against women with whom they are in an intimate partner relationship and their children; however, anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence. 8 Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children. 9 Children who are exposed to domestic violence can experience serious physical, psychological and emotional harm. 10 Behaviour that constitutes domestic violence can also constitute a criminal offence.