NATIONAL COLLECTIVE of
INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S REFUGES INC.

MEDIA RELEASE – 30 AUGUST 2007

Report Criticism Dangerous And Misguided

Criticism of this week’s report on protection orders is being described as dangerous, disappointing and misguided by Women’s Refuge and the National Network of Stopping Violence Services.

The report, by researchers at Waikato University, was commissioned by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and highlighted major gaps and deficiencies and made a raft of recommendations to address them.

The methodology of the research has been rejected and questioned by some, including the Chief Family Court judge, Peter Boshier, and the Law Society, and there has also been criticism it is gender biased.

However, the Chief Executive of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, Heather Henare, and the National Manager of the National Network of Stopping Violence Services are both strongly defending the report.

“The stories of the women in this research are consistent with the stories we hear every day from women our agencies work with. We have heard for a number of years it is increasingly difficult for women to obtain orders and, if they do get them, to have breaches taken seriously.”

“Worryingly, attempts to discredit the research are consistent with many women’s experience of saying they are experiencing violence in their relationship and having others minimise and deny their reality. We continually give the message to people to believe victims of violence, however the response from some to the research just reinforces the negative experience that prompts so many women to say nothing.”

Ms Henare says the criticisms must not distract from the major and important message the report carries.

“Too many women and children are being left in vulnerable and life threatening positions every day in this country and to leave these issues unaddressed would be absolutely inexcusable.”

Mr Gardner says it is an inescapable fact when talking about domestic violence that it is overwhelmingly men’s violence to women.

“The numbers of women, children and men murdered by men, the number of men in our prisons, the 92% of men who are respondents to protection orders and the large body of New Zealand and overseas research cannot be easily dismissed,” Mr Gardner says.

Ms Henare and Mr Gardener are calling on the Government to urgently address the issues raised in the report and ensure women and children in this country are given the full protection of the law that they need and deserve.

ends

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