24 July 2006

Kiro's plan to cement the cracks has the Greens' support

Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro's toolbox of solutions to tackle New Zealand's appalling child abuse record has the full support of the Green Party.

The framework, entitled Te Ara Tukutuku, will provide a solid foundation for building healthy and happy future generations and lessen the chances of tragedies such as the Kahui case occurring, Green's Social Development Spokesperson Sue Bradford says.

"All of the solutions provided by the Commissioner are great ideas that have the potential to deal with the impact of social displacement and poverty on families.

"New Zealand's record on child abuse continues to decline and something must be done. Just this weekend we saw another example with a 14-year-old Whangarei girl drunk and abandoned in a cell because police could not find her family and Child, Youth and Family did not want to get involved. Obviously something is going awry when children like this cannot get the support they need.

"The Children's Commissioner's new plan will help to curb these problems before they begin by providing support for young people and their families from the time the child is born. This is one of the best investments we can make in the future of New Zealand.

"The repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which the Commissioner has also included in her recommendations, is also going to be a critical factor in changing the culture of violence and abuse in which so many of our children and young people live.

"The Green Party calls on the Government and other political parties to support the implementation of this plan for the sake of all New Zealand.

"I also call on the cross party working group set up after the Kahui case, to include the Commissioner's solutions in their work. Her solutions should have the backing of all parties in Parliament, regardless of traditional ideological differences.

"How can we expect to deal with some of the major problems that we will face in the near future such as the end of cheap oil and the impact of climate change, if our children keep falling through the cracks?"

ENDS

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