INSIGHTS

Defining and responding to coercive control: Policy brief

This policy brief is designed to assist policymakers developing legal or policy and practice frameworks to prevent or respond to coercive control in relation to domestic and family violence.

While much of the contemporary focus has been upon criminalisation, this paper identifies three interlinked considerations that are key to effectively addressing coercive control.

Key considerations

• The need for a consistent definition of coercive control and of domestic and family violence across legislative and policy settings, Australia-wide.
• The importance of building the evidence base on the effectiveness of criminalisation and other responses to coercive control, including unintended consequences.
• The need to reform the culture of response to domestic and family violence in and around the legal system and in other settings.

Suggested citation

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2021). Defining and responding to coercive control: Policy brief (ANROWS Insights, 01/2021). ANROWS.