Press Release: Launch of White Ribbon in Manukau

More than 200 people attended the launch of White Ribbon in Manukau today as one of the Ambassadors and Super City Mayor Len Brown began the campaign in one of the largest gatherings in the country. Mayor Brown said that he wanted Auckland to be one of the safest cities in the world and said that it was the responsibility of all those who lived in it to make it so. Earlier in the week both the Families Commission and South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network (SAFVPN) presented information to the Auckland Council Hearings Committee to ensure that Family Violence is not excluded from the plans of Auckland Council in the future.

Hon Judith Collins Minister for Police also attended the launch and said that the Police are only a part of the solution but spoke on the effects domestic violence has on women and families. She was pleased that so many people had taken time out to support this initiative in Auckland.

In New Zealand most violence towards women takes place in the home and in violence between couples, it is men’s violence that is most likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm.

George Ngatai, Co-Chair of South Auckland Family Violence Protection Network SAFVPN said he was saddened by this statistic including the most devastating one being on average 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex-partners. “This has got to stop” he said.

Also at the Launch was newly appointed Superintendent John Tims for Counties Manukau who said he had only been in this position for a few days. One of the comments which was refreshing to see was that Superintendent Tims said that all officers within Counties Manukau should be asking every domestic violence call out what the Police aren’t doing to help reduce the numbers within Counties Manukau. He spoke about there being over 3500 convictions recorded against men every year for assaults on women nationally. However a large number may have come from the Counties Manukau area.

More than 12 bikies rode into Manukau for this event and they started their ride last Friday in Invercargill and will end their ride tonight in Northland.

Co-ordinating the Auckland launch Chair and Manager of South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network (SAFVPN) Raewyn Bhana says that the organising committee and supporting agencies were pleased with the support they received but this is no good if the numbers don't decrease. Each year the White Ribbon Campaign gets bigger and better and the message of “Show you’re against violence towards women” is now a done thing not only today but tomorrow, the next day and the next day after that.

The main message came from the first ambassador for the Campaign Rugby League Legend Wiki Reuben saying “White Ribbon Day is the international day when people, particularly men, wear a White Ribbon to show they won’t tolerate, condone or remain silent about violence towards women”

Finally a huge thanks must go out to the Auckland Council, the many local boards the Families Commission and White Ribbon Committee who has worked with multiple agencies and NGOs to coordinate the national campaign. The White Ribbon campaign complements but is separate to the family violence It’s not OK campaign.

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