Sharpening The Blunt Edge Of Protection Orders

The Minister of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Affairs must be commended for commissioning the report Living at the Cutting Edge - Women's Experience of Protection Orders released today.

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) strongly supports all the recommendations in the report.

"NCWNZ has been privy to anecdotal evidence of the judicial system failing to implement the Domestic Violence Act 1995 as it was intended, causing the increase in the number of protection order cases being put on hold, and delays in processing. This was detailed in the NGO CEDAW report." said Christine Low, NCWNZ National President. "It should be of great concern to all that protection orders have increasingly been perceived as ineffective. It is not surprising that women forgo the safeguard that protection orders should offer, especially when women are still subjected to intimidating threats from abusive partners. The current system is too convoluted and difficult for women, particularly those who have endured unrelenting physical and emotional abuse."

Evidence presented to the UN CEDAW Committee by New Zealand NGOs in the context of domestic violence, combined with the recognition by the Government that this situation needs redressing, has been further supported by UN CEDAW Committee recommendations . The Committee specifically expressed its concern that the number of protective orders granted to women has been declining.

"It is imperative to New Zealand women the recommendations are acted upon," said Christine Low. "This report provides clear direction on what needs to change in our judicial system. The report will also provide valuable insight for bodies such as the judiciary and New Zealand Law Society, members of which are those working at the coalface in domestic violence cases."

The report makes 46 recommendations on legislative, policy and practice changes needed to protect all women victims of violence. Critical changes to the Domestic Violence Act 1995; Care of Children Act 2004 and the Family Proceedings Act 1980 are identified, and supported by factual accounts of a variety of women's experiences.

ENDS

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