Students plan to “March on Midland” to demand future workplaces free of sexual violence.
Victoria University students will march from their Law School grounds to Midland Park in protest of the sexual
harassment and violence students, interns and graduates are subject to within the legal fraternity and professional
services.
Stories of sexual violence and harassment in the workplace are increasing, as more survivors have the courage to come
forward, and students are wanting to call out all professional services to be more accountable for shutting down this
behaviour. This is following this year’s revelations about the treatment of interns and graduates while working for
Russell McVeagh.
Students from the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA), Victoria University of Wellington Law
Students’ Society (VUWLSS) and the VUW Feminist Law Society (VUWFLS) will lead the “March on Midland: Rally to End
Sexual Violence” on Thursday, 15 March to speak out against the toxic culture and power imbalance which is putting
students and graduates at risk, particularly in the professional services.
Students are seeking three key outcomes from the rally:
for Russell McVeagh to be suspended from any further public work until their external review has been completed and
they are held to the ethical standard that should be expected of firms advising the government.
for all law firms adopt the ‘students to-do list’, which includes adopting a zero tolerance approach to sexual assault
and harassment in their workplaces.
for support from the legal profession, university, elected representatives and wider community to hear our voices,
listen to our stories and stand up for safety in the workplace. Our students and alumni, quite frankly, deserve better.
“We deserve to be confident that we will be treated with dignity and respect at work, at university, at home -
everywhere,” says Bethany Paterson, VUWSA Welfare Vice President and a fifth year law student.
“We want senior lawyers to mentor and teach us, rather than be reduced to objects to stare at and grope. There is no
amount of re-wording, re-phrasing, or re-drafting that can justify sexual assault and harassment in the workplace.”
“We are trusting you with our careers and ambitions, please take care of them and us,” Bethany says.
Indiana Shewen, a fifth year law student and VUWLSS Vice President Administration and Equity says the March on Midland
is about standing in solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual violence in all forms.
“We recognise that Māori, other ethnic minorities, gender and sexual minorities and people with disabilities are all
impacted differently. Often young women are the victims, but this is not always the case – anyone can be a victim. Every
story is important and we stand for all of them.”
“It is clear that sexual assault and harassment are pervasive problems within the legal profession, and not limited to
one firm. We are calling for a re-haul of this inadequate culture – we do not accept sexual violence in any form.”
Supporters are asked to gather at the VUW Law School grounds on Bunny St at 11:45am on Thursday, 15 March. The March
will begin from 12:30pm and speeches from students and politicians will be held at Midland Park from 1pm.
People attending the march are asked to wear black, in solidarity with the national Thursdays in Black campaign which
aims to create a world without rape and violence through raising awareness, action and support.