Zero tolerance for violence against PWD
03/12/2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2015
Kelly Vincent, Dignity for Disability MLC media release
Zero tolerance for violence against PWD
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent has used International Day of People with Disability (IDoPwD) to again state that it is illegal to use violence against any person.
“Children and young people with disability are especially susceptible to abuse,” says Kelly Vincent.
“News reports about incidents at AEIOU at Huntfield Heights concern matters still under investigation. It is therefore inappropriate for me to make further comment.
“Concerns were raised with me earlier in the year and I promptly took action to draw these matters to the attention of both the SA Minister for Education and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
“All families who place their children in the care of professional staff have a right to expect their children will be safe and well throughout the day.
“Statistically, people with disabilities are at least twice more likely to experience violence than non-disabled people. This fact casts a dark shadow over our nation.
“This is why it has been necessary to strengthen the rights of vulnerable people to give evidence through our justice system in the state’s Disability Justice Plan.
“On International Day of Disability, Dignity for Disability reinforce our zero tolerance stance, and encourage all persons affected to report instances of abuse and for those loving, living, or working with them to support them to do so if needed,” concluded Ms Vincent.
