KEY POINTS:
The Children's Commissioner is calling on family members, the community and even gang leaders to smash the "conspiracy of silence" that surrounds child abuse victims.
Cindy Kiro's comments come after reports of a tragic case of abuse in which three young children were beaten, starved and locked outside their Porirua home and left to huddle under a tree until after dark.
Neighbours and family members who witnessed the abuse failed to report to authorities because of fear of gang retaliation.
Dr Kiro told NZPA it was time people stood up against institutionalised violence within some families.
"I think that there is a conspiracy of silence around some families where fear and intimidation are the norm."
She said the key issue was a number of people who could have said something, such as extended family members, the neighbours and friends of the family.
"Somebody needed to say something because this situation is completely intolerable and unacceptable."
In the Porirua case there were gang affiliations with the family and Dr Kiro called on the gang leaders to take an active role in condemning child abuse.
"I think there really is a role for gang leaders to step up and say they won't tolerate this kind of behaviour in their ranks, and for other members to challenge it when they see it."
The children, aged five, six and eight, were repeatedly beaten and the youngest had such a severe infestation of head lice that her hair fell out in hunks.
Neighbours in Penguin Grove told The Dominion Post they were too scared to report the cruelty, partly because of the intimidating presence of patched Mongrel Mob members who lived in the street.
Dr Kiro said there were facilities where people could report abuse anonymously through Child, Youth and Family.
The organisation was not supposed to release any details on where they received their information, she said.
"But the key thing here is getting people to step up and take their proper role including the leaders who are the heads of these gangs and family members who are witnessing this, as well as the neighbours."
Police only became aware of the children's plight when the youngest girl was admitted to hospital. She had been hit on the back of the head so hard that her head was forced through a bedroom wall.
The children's stepfather was jailed this year for 5 1/2 years for ill-treatment of the children and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Their mother was sentenced in Wellington District Court last week to eight months home detention after pleading guilty to child cruelty and assault with a weapon.
- NZPA
