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Our Watch has released a national blueprint to address AI-generated pornography, tech-facilitated abuse, and other drivers of violence against women.
The Australian government has been called upon to invest in respectful relationships education (RRE) in Australian schools to combat a rising tide of gendered violence.
Primary prevention not-for-profit Our Watch has released what it calls a “landmark new blueprint” to help combat some of the key drivers of violence against women at a school level, including AI-generated pornography, tech-facilitated abuse, sexual harassment of female teachers and students, and sexualised bullying.
Our Watch’s RRE blueprint provides structured lessons to help young people build healthy relationships, both in the classroom and as they mature into adults. It’s structured in three phases: building evidence-based foundations for RRE, supporting and implementing a whole-of-school approach to RRE, and then sustaining and building momentum for continuous change and improvement.
“It is deeply concerning that nearly every week, there is a new incident in the school environment – whether that be young men sharing deepfake porn of young women they know, or female teachers leaving the industry because they fear for their safety,” Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Our Watch, said in a 20 May statement.
“Research shows a clear connection between sexism, disrespect and gender-based violence. This landmark blueprint not only outlines the problems but also provides an evidence-based roadmap for governments on how the education system can help prevent gender-based violence.”
Research by Our Watch found that 40 per cent of 16- to 17-year-olds experience some form of sexual harassment in schools, and that 24 per cent of women aged between 18 and 14 have experienced image-based abuse. In addition, Our Watch found that girls are twice as likely to be pressured or even blackmailed into sexting than boys.
According to Kinnersly, young people are being exposed to harmful messaging regarding sex and relationships at ever-higher levels and are looking for more support.
“This blueprint, developed in consultation with the education sector, provides a step-by-step plan to support schools to be places of safety, inclusion and respect,” Kinnersly said.
“Respectful relationships education in every Australian school will support young people to develop their ability to critique the world, cultivate strong and healthy relationships and contribute to ending violence against women and girls.”
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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