NCJ Number
151361
Date Published
1994
Length
353 pages
Annotation
A comprehensive discussion of women, the law, and the legal system in Australia is presented.
Abstract
This report contains the results of investigative efforts of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) regarding women, the law, and the legal system. The LRC undertook an investigation which revealed that improvements were needed to promote equality for women within the existing legal system, determining that problems regarding women's inequality were serious and widespread. The LRC determined that women's contributions to the community are undervalued; women have less access to financial resources than men; women suffer inequality in the workplace; women are restricted in contributing to legal and political institutions; and women experience pervasive violence perpetrated by men. This inequality adversely affects the ability of women to use and receive justice from the legal system. Two areas of Federal law identified for further investigation and reform are family law and immigration. Recommendations for reform in these two areas as well as others are included in this report. Also included in the report are recommendations that deal specifically with legal measures to help the law redress discrimination and promote equality including, inter alia, strengthening the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, improving women's access to legal aid and other legal services, and improving the law's response to violence against women including domestic violence. The report also contains four appendixes, a table of cases, a table of legislation, and a bibliography.