Family violence comments flood in

A new family violence advocacy group says it has been “inundated” by women wanting to speak up on how the justice system is “failing” them.

And it says the situation is much worse than initially thought — particularly in the Family Court arena.

The Backbone Collective, an independent body aiming to act against domestic and sexual violence towards Kiwi women, started this year.

It was formed by a national coalition of survivors of violence and will also act as a Family Court watchdog.

It aims to examine the present response system through the eyes of abuse victims and publish regular watchdog reports.

Its first report last week had a list of questions about “widespread failures” women are experiencing in the Family Court. “The questions . . . leave us in little doubt that the Family Court is currently a dangerous place for women and children,” said Backbone co-founder Deb Mackenzie.

“Some women . . . have been advised by their lawyers not to leave their abusive partner because the Family Court will force their children into care arrangements with him upon separation. So, women stay in an unsafe home to protect their children. The stories we have been told are extremely disturbing.”

Mackenzie said feedback from Backbone members “shine a light on the dysfunction that is happening in the Family Court”.

“The dangers, the misunderstandings, the misinformed decisionmaking, and the mirroring of the abuse by those in power,” she said.

The Collective’s first report claims a number of main findings around the Family Court including shortfalls in legislation, concerns over the quality of judges, a lack of monitoring of the system and the revictimisation of women and children.

Mackenzie said more than 400 women had registered with the Collective since it launched. For the Backbone report, go to nzherald.co.nz