Minister: ‘No room for violence in our lives’
National talk begins to end the scourge
inister for Family and Sexual Violence Marama Davidson has launched a national discussion on the prevention and elimination of family and sexual violence.
“There is no room for violence in our lives. There is no place for family violence or sexual violence in our wha¯ nau at all. I have always and will always take a wha¯ nau-led approach, which is why we are all gathered here ahead of discussions across the motu,” said at Auckland’s Nga¯ Whare Marae.
“We know that violence can happen across all communities – no community is excepted.
“It’s a priority for me to increase work that will make the most difference. This means bolstering prevention activities to stop violence happening in the first place, and wrap-around services for those using violence to stop.”
Marama Davidson said the engagement process would open up a safe and trusted space for all voices of the community, particularly those with “lived experience”, to be listened to and learned from before the creation of the national strategy and action plans.
Wahine Ma¯ori were still disproportionately represented according to the data, she said. More than one in three were survivors of family and/or sexual violence.
“It is essential, given the evidence, that the Ma¯ori leadership, Te Ao Ma¯ ori thinking and inclusive Te Tiriti framework play a pivotal part in transforming the system and is right at the forefront,” she said.
She particularly acknowledged Interim Te Ro¯ pu¯ , who produced the Te Hau Tangata resource in the engagement invitation pack, the current leadership in communities, and the widely respected research that had a whakapapa spanning decades.
“This has all contributed to getting us as a country to this place. I know we are ready to take action together,” she said.
The engagement, which began last week and would continue until the end of June, included community-led hui, anonymous online survey engagement, email and free-post submissions, in writing, by voice or video. All online and email channels would be safe, secure and confidential.
The Government had engaged independent expert advisers to oversee the handling of the insight evidence to ensure it would be confidential and retained its integrity.