Advocates Delighted with Announcement of Select Committee Inquiry into Access to Services for Sexual Violence

“I am thrilled with the Green Party announcement of a Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry into sexual violence support services funding in New Zealand” Executive Director, Rape Prevention Education, Dr Kim McGregor said.

“The select committee inquiry will complement the cross-government review Minister Bennett has already started and adds the possibility of cross-party solutions to the current lack of specialist sexual violence prevention and intervention services throughout the country” she says.

“Sexual violence has been off the political agenda for the past 20 years as the focus has been on family violence. For example, despite the hugely high rates of child sexual abuse in New Zealand, in the government’s multimillion dollar ‘It’s Not OK Campaign’ there was not one mention of child sexual abuse”,” says McGregor.

“There are many areas in the country that have no specialist sexual violence support services” says National Sexual Violence Survivor Advocate with Rape Prevention Education, Louise Nicholas.

“There are not enough specialist services for survivors of sexual violence and their families or for those with harmful sexual behaviours and their families. Where specialist services do exist, most have huge waiting lists” she says.

“We need specialist services for all of those affected by sexual violence including children, youth, adults (female and male), Maori, other ethnic and diverse communities, and other targeted groups such as the disabled.” says Nicholas.

“I am pleased that the Inquiry will review access to specialist sexual violence prevention and intervention services for Maori” says Co-Director of Korowai Tumanako, Russell Smith.

“We are pleased that the select committee inquiry will allow female and male survivors of sexual violence to have their voices heard” says Nicholas and the National Manager of Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, Ken Clearwater.

All of the advocates hope that those affected by sexual violence, who wish to be heard by the inquiry, will put in a submission. The advocates believe this is the first Parliamentary inquiry of its kind in New Zealand.

Submissions to the review close on 10 October

ENDS

© Scoop Media