Call for sex violence prevention plan

A national sexual violence prevention plan should be created, the sexual violence taskforce says.

Justice Minister Simon Power released the taskforce's report today.

He said the Government was now considering the report's recommendations which covered a range of areas and portfolios.

The report confirmed that sexual violence was one of the most costly crimes for the health, social and justice sectors, he said.

The recommendations required "detailed analysis".

The taskforce also recommended legislative amendments , work on alternative pathways to the criminal justice system and monitoring the recommendations to ensure action was properly targeted.

Along with taskforce recommendations Te Ohaakii a Hine - National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST) made others, including:

* a whole-of-government group to work with TOAH-NNEST on ongoing prevention;

* funding for specialised sexual violence prevention services and programmes;

* a focus on six key areas - including protecting children and Maori-led solutions;

* legislative changes to ACC to support the best practice of rehabilitation and treatment;

* government funding for a Maori offender pilot programme.

Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong said yesterday the research provided a good base to look at the services available and how victims' needs could be better met.

The two-year research project, which involved face-to-face interviews and surveys, was the first comprehensive research on the topic in 30 years, she said.

Most sexual attacks involved someone the victim knew and were under-reported because people feared shame, self-blame and not being believed.

"Unfortunately" they were often right, Ms Wong said.

"The Government is committed to utilising this significant piece of research to reduce the impact sexual violence has on victims."

The report ends the taskforce which involved community sector representatives and government chief executives.

- NZPA