NATIONAL COLLECTIVE of
INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S REFUGES INC.

MEDIA RELEASE ON BEHALF OF TASKFORCE NGOs
EMBARGOED 1PM 4 SEPTEMBER 2007

New Zealanders Urged to End Violence

All New Zealanders are being urged by groups working to eliminate domestic violence to honestly confront their attitudes and behaviours to stem the country’s tragic rate of death and abuse.

Their call comes as the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families launches a nationwide campaign to help combat domestic violence.

The Taskforce includes representatives from several non-government organisations working in the field of family violence.

The spokeswoman for those organisations, Women’s Refuge Chief Executive, Heather Henare, says they fully support the campaign to change behaviours and attitudes.

“The Government’s commitment to tackling violence through the formation and work of the Taskforce is very welcome, but we all recognise it is a long road and one that certainly is not easy.”

Ms Henare says it is vital that New Zealanders confront themselves and their whanau about domestic violence to start to turn around the country’s shameful statistics.

“Over the past decade around 200 women and children have died as a result of domestic violence homicides, and it is up to every single New Zealander to stand up and say they will no longer tolerate any behaviour, attitude or beliefs that will allow this tragic situation to go on.”

“People should seize this campaign as an opportunity to address one of the most serious social ills facing us, and use it to make positive change in the lives of themselves and their loved ones.”

“It can be difficult and take incredible bravery and courage to step forward, but the option of not doing so simply creates ongoing misery and tragedy, and that is something we cannot accept.”

Ms Henare says people need to access the range of agencies and services available in the community that can help them achieve effective and long-term change.

“Groups like ours are expecting awareness around this campaign to generate a lot of work in terms of people coming forward who either need help as victims of violence, or who want to change their own behaviour or encourage someone else to do that.”

Ms Henare says the additional workload the campaign will create for social service groups and NGOs will need to be monitored to ensure they receive sustainable funding that allows that demand to be met.

ENDS

© Scoop Media