Earthquake Victims Reminded Family Violence is Never OK

The family violence prevention network Jigsaw Family Services says that family violence is never OK, whatever the circumstances.

The comments follow figures released by Christchurch police which show reports of domestic violence related cases have increased by 53% since Saturday’s earthquake.

Jigsaw's Chief Executive (Strategic Operations) Liz Kinley says that the stress of an earthquake, while enormously devastating for all families in Christchurch, is not in any way an excuse for someone to harm anyone else in their family.

“When children have been traumatised by a recent earthquake they need loving support from their families to recover otherwise experiencing violence and abuse on top of the earthquake will set back their recovery and re-traumatise them,” Liz says.

She says many women who are being abused and harmed by their partners or who are worried about the safety of their children will often not seek the support and help that’s needed because they put their own welfare last.

“They often feel they have no right to “make a fuss” in the face of such overwhelming disaster, but we want to encourage women to ask for help early when trouble starts,” Liz Kinley says.

Similarly, family members and friends who might have intervened to stop dangerous behaviour in the past might now feel hesitant to do so, thinking they might be over-reacting because everyone is tired and stressed.

But she says violence is never OK. Children are harmed when they witness violence against their mother or any other family member, not only when they are directly abused themselves.

Christchurch Women’s Refuge is one of Jigsaw’s five partner agencies in Christchurch and even though the organisation’s main office has been damaged by the quake, its services are fully operating and available.

The Chief Executive Officer Annette Gillespie says women should ask for help early when trouble starts.

“When you seek help, early safety plans can be made, your partner can get help to change their harmful behaviour and further harm can be prevented for you and your children,” Annette says.

If you need help phone 0800 1 REFUGE for information, help, advice or support. For more information on Jigsaw’s Christchurch agencies, go to our website.

ENDS

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