The One Punch Can Kill campaign is aimed at preventing senseless violence among young people, and about stopping them from making split-second decisions that could ruin their lives or the lives of others.
It targets ‘Generation Y’ using modern media and technology, and informs today’s youth that acts of violence can have very serious and damaging consequences.
Research shows young men between the age of 15 and 25 are the most likely to be assault victims or offenders.
One Punch Can Kill is the result of recommendations from the Government’s Youth Violence Task Force, which called for a targeted media strategy to send home the message of anti-violence.
The slogan ‘One Punch Can Kill’ is a reminder of the shocking reality that simple acts of violence can have tragic consequences.
The message is that violence can result in:
Death
Imprisonment
A permanent criminal record
Bans on obtaining a passport and travelling overseas
Emotional trauma for family and friends of the victim and offender.
It is hoped by outlining these harsh realities for young people that they will reconsider their behaviour and choose to live a life without violence.
One Punch Can Kill focuses on a positive message of choosing options, and empowers young people to consider the consequences of their decisions, such as whether to fight or walk away.
Research has found that young males are highly influenced by the women who surround them such as friends, girlfriends, housemates, siblings and mums. The slogan “I support Blokes who don’t fight” has been created in the hope that girls and women will get on board to influence young men not to respond violently in heated situations and to emphasise the fact that is it ok to walk away.
The “One Punch Can Kill” message goes hand in hand with the Party Safe Program.
All Queenslanders are encouraged to get behind the message, and to register parties with police.
Premier Anna Bligh, Commissioner Bob Atkinson, Paul Stanley of the Matthew Stanley Foundation, and the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group are among many key supporters who encourage the community to get behind the campaign to stop the violence that is ruining young lives.
Information regarding the campaign is available on the internet through MySpace, Facebook, Yahoo and Hotmail. There are also radio ads and convenience advertising in pubs and clubs and other public places.
All young people deserve to have a good start in life, and acts of violence can damage both victims’ and offenders’ chances of a positive future. One Punch Can Kill focuses on changing the attitudes of those people who are involved in violence in the hope that it will become a universal view that violence is not ok.
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