MEDIA RELEASE
10 May 2006
Preventing family violence highest priority for Ministry
The level of violence within families is unacceptable and reducing violence is one of the highest priorities for women
and for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs says Ministry Chief Executive Shenagh Gleisner.
Ms Gleisner is also Deputy Chair of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families. The Taskforce will report to
Ministers in July with strategies for medium to long term actions to prevent family violence, including a detailed
programme of action for the year to June 2007.
“Violence within families has proved one of the most intractable problems impacting on women and children,” said Shenagh
Gleisner. “When we report to the United Nations on our international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), as we did again in March, we can show real progress in many areas,
but violence against women is proving very hard to address.”
The causes of violence are complex and the solutions will need responses from individuals and institutions throughout
the community. It will require a very high level of co-operation between government agencies and between government and
not-for-profit organisations (NGOs) working in the area she said.
“Additional funding for NGOs announced by the government today will help provide vital support in areas like 24-hour
crisis lines, counselling, social work support, safe house accommodation, advocacy and information,” she said.
“Improving these services is part of the solution, as is ensuring areas like policing and the justice system work
effectively to reduce violence.
“Ultimately however, family violence is every New Zealander’s issue. Violence will only reduce when people no longer
tolerate it, and that requires attitudes and behaviour to change. Achieving that will require education, as well as
excellent enforcement and support services for victims.
“The Ministry is committed to continuing to work closely with NGOs, and communities that are fighting to prevent family
violence, as well as supporting a whole-of-government response through initiatives such as the Taskforce for Action on
Violence within Families.”
ENDS