28 March 2012

Campaign condemns ignorant comments from Laws

The White Ribbon Campaign condemns prominent talkback host Michael Laws for posing the question that violence against women is ok if the women are not intelligent, while calling the White Ribbon Campaign ‘the crappiest, stupidest, most moronic display of public sentiment this country indulges in’.

“The fact that one-in-three women suffers family violence at the hands of a partner or former partner is a horrifying thought” says Carl Davidson, Families Commission Chief Commissioner. “With an average of 14 women a year killed in family violence incidents, all New Zealanders should take violence against women seriously, including Michael Laws”.

“The White Ribbon Campaign, as Laws has suggested previously, does not blame men for family violence. It is a Campaign that sees men as part of the solution offering alternatives for violence. This is epitomised by the White Ribbon Ambassadors who are able to lead by example, exemplifying behaviour that rejects violence,” says Mr Davidson.

“It is important to understand that most serious violence is inflicted by men against women. The New Zealand Police will attest to this, as will hospitals who deal with the more serious physical violence. So too will many other organisations that work with men involved in violence such as the National Network of Stopping Violence Serves.

“To suggest that somehow women can be deserving of violence is not only uninformed, it’s abhorrent.

“There is no conspiracy here. As men we must do everything we can to end this violence, and White Ribbon is a powerful tool to get that message out. Simply put, it’s men talking to men in ways that men understand.

Once more the Families Commission invites Michael Laws to join the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders that demonstrate their support by wearing a white ribbon each November. Michael could join the hundreds of communities that organise White Ribbon Events to talk about, and stop violence from being hidden.

“Finally, Michael could join the thousands of men who pledge to never commit or condone violence against women as they sign pledges throughout the country.

“That would be real leadership,” says Mr Davidson.

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ENDS

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