Tech helps women in abusive relationships

WELLINGTON: Women’s Refuge says technology is increasingly being used as a way to control women in abusive relationships, so it has found a way for it to help victims.

On the websites of many New Zealand companies women can now access information about the services offered by Women’s Refuge via a webpage which will leave no trace in the browser history.

Women’s Refuge chief executive Ang Jury said that abusers often exerted control over all of a woman’s activities and would check on things such as who they had rung, their text messages and which web

sites they had visited.

She said the Shielded system offered a discreet way for women to get advice about the services the Women’s Refuge offered.

‘‘When people click on the little icon, it takes them to some basic information about how to keep safe, how to seek help, and gives a contact email form if they want to contact us by email,’’ Dr Jury said.

The page also provides information on how to keep your web history private on other sites if you suspect you are being monitored.

The Shielded icon is a small image of a computer with half the screen shaded.

The link is available on the websites of The Warehouse, Trade Me, ASB and others.

Dr Jury said the site was hosted by ASB and had been operating for almost two years. She hoped ASB would be able to offer the service long term, she said.

The holiday period could be a busy time for those who offered help to people in abusive relationships, she said.

‘‘It’s not necessarily in the couple of days before and after Christmas, but the later part between Christmas and New Year . . . when people are partying most, people are spending most, becoming aware of their spending, spending time together that they don’t normally do.’’

Her advice to anyone who saw or heard anything they knew was not OK was not to turn a blind eye.

‘‘If something feels like it’s not right, intervene. There are lots of people out there that can help.’’ — RNZ