Missing and murdered First Nations women and children

Please be aware that some submissions contain sensitive material, such as descriptions of deaths, violence and abuse, including of babies, children, young people and women.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons are respectfully advised that some submissions refer to people who are deceased or missing.

On 4 August 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry. 

Missing and murdered First Nations women and children, with particular reference to:

1. the number of First Nations women and children who are missing and murdered;
2. the current and historical practices, including resources, to investigating the deaths and missing person reports of First Nations women and children in each jurisdiction compared to non-First Nations women and children;
3. the institutional legislation, policies and practices implemented in response to all forms of violence experienced by First Nations women and children;
4. the systemic causes of all forms of violence, including sexual violence, against First Nations women and children, including underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional and historical causes contributing to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of First Nations women and children;
5. the policies, practices and support services that have been effective in reducing violence and increasing safety of First Nations women and children, including self-determined strategies and initiatives;
6. the identification of concrete and effective actions that can be taken to remove systemic causes of violence and to increase the safety of First Nations women and children;
7. the ways in which missing and murdered First Nations women and children and their families can be honoured and commemorated; and
8. any other related matters.