An Awareness Breakfast was hosted by community groups in Papakura this morning and more than twenty community leaders and organisations wanted to show their support for the Teal Ribbon Campaign "Choose to be Violence Free" held at Papakura Marae.

Service Manager of South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network (SAFVPN), Raewyn Bhana said it was humbling to see so many people and organisations within the community come out at 7am to participate in such a huge issue for families especially at this time of the year. "I was also pleased to see the community raise just under $1000 for such a campaign like Teal Ribbon" she said. This years focus is on our school children through the "Choose to be Violence Free" and the additional "Cool Down Walk Away" programme which we hope to present to over 1000 students this week.

The Teal Ribbon Campaign has been an annual event for the past six years and support within the whole of South Auckland was increasing. Maori and Pacific tend to be high on the statistics for domestic violence and we believe that addressing this problem needs to come from all of us. “We encourage people to wear our ribbon as a personal commitment against every form of family violence, child abuse, partner abuse and elder abuse, irrespective of who is the perpetrator”.

“The awareness week which started on Saturday 12 November 2011 helps to raise the profile of community solutions to family violence and supports national campaigns like the Ministry of Social Developments “It’s Not OK” campaign, currently running on national television,” "By the end of the week we would have visited more than 10 schools and over 1000 students" Ms Bhana said.

More information on the event as well as times and dates we will be at your school can be found at www.beviolencefree.org.nz.

A huge thank you needs to go to all those organisations and individuals who continue to raise the awareness of "Choose to be Violence Free" Teal Ribbon Campaign. If it wasn't for these groups we would not be able to do our work within SAFVPN.

SAFVPN is a network of non-governmental organisations, local and central government, schools, community and whanau of Counties Manukau whose interests lie in collaborative action against violence in our community.

Statistics show that incidences of family violence increase over the Christmas period. The awareness week has been timed to help reduce the frequency of incidents during this time.

New Zealand Family violence statistics show:
- Every year about 10 children are killed in New Zealand by a member or members of their family. Let’s help change that statistic.

End:

© Scoop Media