Submission to Revenge Porn / Sharing of intimate images without consent discussion paper
October 2016: This year the Attorney General called for submissions regarding ‘revenge porn’ – also known as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Measures regarding revenge porn would likely have an impact on young people who sext or share intimate images.
Youth Action response highlighted some core principles that required consideration:
- the ability to develop a healthy sexuality as an essential component of an individual’s mental and physical wellbeing
- Sharing intimate images as increasingly a part of young people’s self-expression and sexual agency
- The right to information, to access sexual health services, and to freedom of expression
- Juvenile justice principles
- gaps and legal inconsistencies in the form of protection and address for young people who sext as well as those who have their images shared without their consent
- the need to avoid unnecessary criminalisation of young people
- the need for quick redress, that doesn’t rely on a young person navigating the court and justice systems
- the need for education on respectful relationships, ethics and consent, rather than an approach that promotes simply refraining from sexting