Media Release

Roundtable on Violence Against Women 17 April 2009 for immediate release

Veitch's Supporters Take Us Back To The Dark Ages

Events at Tony Veitch's court case are a huge step backwards for efforts to stop New Zealand's appalling domestic violence rate.

"The 20 well know New Zealanders who stood up in court testifying to Veitch's 'good character' have taken New Zealand back thirty years to a time when violence in the home was 'just a domestic' and what happened in the privacy of one's own bedroom was their private business", says Ruth Herbert, spokesperson for the Roundtable on Violence Against Women.

"These well known New Zealanders individually and collectively sent a message to our men and boys that violently assaulting your partner is OK. Likewise they sent a message to our women and girls that if your partner assaults you, you are less likely to be listened to if he has influential friends and the 'mates' who think he's a 'good guy'."

In her statement to the court Dame Susan Devoy, the mother of four young boys, dismissed the seriousness of domestic violence by saying "we all make mistakes".

"The question we all need to ask is - if he had broken the back of a small child would these same 20 celebrities have come out in support of him? If he had attacked a woman in the street who he didn't know and broken her back would that too be just a 'mistake'?" asked Ms Herbert.

Men who abuse the ones they supposedly love almost always look and behave just like the rest of us. Because a man appears to be of 'good character' in his day job doesn't automatically mean he is of similar 'good character' at home. Domestic violence and controlling behaviour is often hidden.

The Roundtable on Violence Against Women calls on the 20 celebrities to send a strong message that violence is never ok.

"Their efforts should be going into helping the thousands of women and children who are trying to rebuild their lives after violence, rather than making excuses for violent men."

ENDS

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