PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3 JULY 2008
A Cry For Help

Your Voice Can Save A Child’s Life

Jigsaw Professional Consultant, Catherine Lawson, says that each and every one of us in New Zealand is responsible to keep our children safe and alive.

Ms Lawson’s comments follow the death of a seven year old in Nelson yesterday. She believes that everyone in New Zealand must ‘up the ante’ to stop the killing and abuse of our children. We need to get it clear that ‘our children’s safety is the business of all of us’. No form of violence or harm towards children is OK.

“Often when children are killed or harmed by their parents or caregivers, it is not a one off or isolated incident. Up until that point, it is likely that there would have been many instances of the child being hurt, injured or abused.

If a family member, neighbour or anyone in the community suspects a child is being harmed in any way, they must find the courage to speak out. When any of us suspect, hear or see a child being harmed it is our moral duty to speak out in order to keep that child safe and alive.”

Ms Lawson says local communities, family members and individuals are vital links to assist and help community support organisations, Child Youth and Family and the Police to take action to protect children and to help parents and families make the changes needed to raise their children safely.

“We must stop blaming others for the rise in child abuse and deaths in our country and become personally responsible for looking out for the children we come into contact with in our own daily lives, whether within our own families or in our communities.”

If anyone suspects a child is being harmed in any way, they must take action. For information and advice about what to do, people can call the It’s Not OK free help line (0800 456 450) or) or if they are worried that a child is being harmed right now they should call the Child Youth and Family (0508 326 459) or the Police.

ENDS

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