MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19 November 2008

It takes courage to make it stop

Yesterday, guilty verdicts were handed to those responsible for the death of Nia Glassie in Rotorua.

Anthea Simcock, CEO and founder of CPS, New Zealands child protection specialist organisation says “Stopping tragedies like these takes courage. New Zealanders need to talk to someone about what they are seeing, and just keep talking until the abuse stops. – Just keep talking….”

Mrs Simcock refers to a successful UK campaign run by the NSPCC called Talk till it stops. “This campaign really sums up what is needed in NZ. Each of us can make a difference, and if we share our concerns we can make so much more of a difference.”

“But it’s not easy”, says Mrs Simcock. “New Zealanders, by nature don’t like to be seen as busybodies. People can also have concerns about not knowing what to do, what will happen next, or what the consequences may be for the child or for themselves. It can become very difficult to get communities to do what so desperately needs to be done to help children in need.”

So how do we change peoples responses, and ensure they have the courage to share their concerns and keep taking action till the abuse stops? “Education and information are vital components” says Mrs Simcock. “Communities that embrace child protection education gain the skills, knowledge, and most importantly confidence, to take the critical action that can prevent tragedies like Nia Glassie.”

CPS notes that at least three of the towns which have had child deaths in the last year, have been the areas that CPS has had the least response to for their child protection programmes. Could it be that these communities are numb to the violence and almost take a defeatist attitude? These communities need to take responsibility for what is happening in their back yard and make it stop. The resources are there, but communities need to be prepared to use them to make a difference.

Mrs Simcock believes New Zealand is a country of champions. Let’s be champions for our children.

ENDS

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