Media Release
27 March 2007

Protesters misuse children and need to reflect on their parental responsibilities

“Those who oppose the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill have every right to take their opposition to the streets in protest. But they have no right to manipulate and misuse their own children for the purpose,” said Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand today.

“I have been saddened by television coverage of the demonstrations have been held so far that have been characterised by images of little children carrying placards with messages that they can not possibly understand at their age.”

“This is a deplorable and cynical misuse of children,” he said. “Children are to be nurtured and loved by parents, not used for political purposes in this way. These children do not know what Section 59 says, they know nothing of its history, they were not present at select committee hearings, nor have they reviewed the research on the subject.”

“Instead their parents have taken them to a demonstration, put a placard in their hands or hung it round their neck and marched them down the street. It is hardly plausible to think that these children have offered to participate.”

Murray Edridge concluded by urging the demonstrators to consider what they were doing and to demonstrate some restraint.

“A disturbing feature of this whole debate is that those supporting repeal of Section 59 have generally been well-informed and courteous in their representations, whilst those opposing repeal have often engaged in activities and communications that are vitriolic and abusive. People have every right to oppose the legislation by lobbying, demonstration and through the media, but they need to reflect on the outrageously alarmist claims they are making and on the serious misrepresentation that they are engaging in.”

“But above all, they need to think more clearly about their parental responsibilities and what they require their children to do.”

ENDS

www.barnardos.org.nz

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