Front-line groups react to the government's family violence elimination strategy. Photo / NZME
Front-line groups react to the government's family violence elimination strategy. Photo / NZME
The government's 25-year strategy for eliminating family violence is a weight off for frontline community workers but others are concerned it doesn't go into enough detail.
The Te Aorerekura National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence was unveiled last Tuesday .
The framework says it's set to "eliminate"family and sexual violence, will drive government action in a unified way and harness public support.
Tauranga Women's Refuge manager Hazel Hape said it was a step in the right direction.
"This is the first time we've been talking about eliminating instead of addressing [family violence]" she said.
She thought the strategy was a move away from "ambulance at the bottom of the cliff" crisis management and into more preventative, community-based interventions.
Tauranga Women's Refuge manager Hazel Hape said the government's new plan is a step in the right direction. Photo / George Novak
But, she hoped the government would acknowledge that women and children are the most at risk for family violence, which she had observed from her years at the refuge.
She also hoped the ten organisations involved in the strategy would present a united front and felt if there was not 100 per cent commitment from the government, progress would be slow.
Waiariki Women's Refuge operations manager Marpina Wineera said the strategy won't change anything for their organisation.
She felt there would inevitably turn out to be things missing from the plan but felt they could be included as the strategy evolves.
"There will be gaps, just like anyone's plan, there's always gaps [sic]. At the end of the day, we still continue to do what it is we do."
Male Survivors Bay of Plenty manager Bruce Montgomery said without diminishing the impact of family violence on women, he was concerned the strategy may not address male victims of sexual and family violence.
He said the stigma specifically around male survivors of sexual abuse keeps many victims from reporting them.
Tauranga Living Without Violence practice manager Glynette Gainfort said the strategy was more generic than how-to, so she wanted to know how the human and financial resources would be deployed to make a real difference.
"The issue is always that there can be a lot of talk and understanding, but to do that work, to do that mahi, where are those resources on the ground?
"What's written and talked about and rolled out at that higher level doesn't necessarily translate into their counterparts in cities."
National Party spokeswoman for social development and Taupō MP Louise Upston. Photo / NZME
National Party social development spokeswoman Louise Upston said the strategy was "welcome news" but lacked specific plans for how victims will be made safer.
"Clearer measures are needed to determine what current spending allocated to sexual and family violence is achieving."
She also thought the strategy lacked accountability "on whether sufficient progress was being made to eliminate family and sexual violence".
Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Marama Davidson said the strategy deals extensively with the gendered nature of family violence.
She said the plan brings together 10 agencies and holds them accountable to reaching their goals.
Marama Davidson, Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, said the strategy is a breakthrough for eliminating violence in New Zealand. Photo / Michael Craig
She said the strategy outlines a clear commitment to helping male victims as well as female victims.
"It's important to be able to hold the space for the gendered nature of violence, as well as making a very clear protection for all genders."
She said the response to the plan has been "extremely positive", particularly in the plan's community-led focus, primary prevention, and acknowledgement of the Treaty of Waitangi.
She said the strategy gives a much larger role to frontline providers.
"The whole point of the strategy is that the sector and community need to actually lead this work. That will absolutely be supported through funding."
She said Upston's concerns about accountability were dealt with in the strategy.
The Outcomes and Impacts section and the Action Plan outlines how the strategy's success will be measured against specific outcomes.
"We can all work together to actually make the strategy work, to make it accountable, to make sure that it's got the full support that it needs from every single politician regardless of what party they are from."
She said she was committed to making sure the strategy lasts beyond this government.
"[The plan] is not owned by any one political party or anyone term of government.
"I want it to be impossible to go back on the word and the guarantees and the accountability that the strategy sets out. I want it to be unacceptable that we renege on the strategy in any way."
She expressed her gratitude to those working on the front line.
Domestic violent - Do you need help?
If you're in danger now:
• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. • Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. • Don't stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay
Where to go for help or more information:
• Shine, free national helpline 9am-11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz • Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 • It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz
