Family Law Results Helping Amnesty

Papakura-based law firm, Family Law Results, is next week helping Amnesty International raise awareness for the millions of women worldwide robbed of a voice to speak up against violence.

Family Law Results, in association with Amnesty International, will be holding a stall in Papakura Town Square on Tuesday (25th November) between 10am and 3pm to mark White Ribbon Day – the international day where people wear a white ribbon to show they do not condone violence against women. This day also launches Amnesty International's 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence which runs until Human Rights Day on 10th December.

"Every day our team sees first hand the needless cost of violence towards women in our local community," says Selena-Jane Trigg, Principal of Family Law Results.

"We see a huge amount of 'good' in Papakura but can't ignore the fact that what we see by way of cases of violence is probably only the tip of the iceberg," adds Trigg.

Violence against women is the most widespread human rights injustice in the world. Statistics show that one in three women in New Zealand have suffered physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their partner.

"It costs our women, let us not forget it costs our men, and most importantly, it's costing our children and future generations," says Trigg.

"Recent media cases of domestic violence only serve to highlight the dire need to do more about this grave issue, and it is heartening to see members of the community get behind this campaign so passionately," says Amnesty's Activism Support Manager, Margaret Taylor.

As well as handing out white ribbons, the Family Law Results team will be offering people the opportunity to sign appeal letters on behalf of incredibly brave women who have been abused because of their efforts to defend women’s human rights.

"Our aim is to finish White Ribbon Day with every one of those ribbons being worn by members of the community and with as many signatures from the people of Papakura as possible. We really hope people take the time to stop for a few seconds and give their support – we'll be outside Farmer's – look out for the white balloons!" says Trigg.

To see further White Ribbon Day events around New Zealand, and for more information about Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women campaign, visit www.standbyme.org

Background:

White Ribbon Day (25 November) was started by a men's movement in Canada in 1991, in response to the Ecole Polytechnique massacre where 14 women were killed by an anti-feminist on 6th December 1989. This day has been officially adopted by the United Nations as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and people wear a white ribbon to protest violence against women.

Amnesty International's 16 Days of Activism: Since 2004, Amnesty International has taken part in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, a period of global campaign running during which thousands of people and organisations worldwide take a stand against gender-based violence. The 16 Days run from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) till 10 December (International Human Rights Day). These symbolic dates emphasise that violence against women is a grave human rights violation.

ENDS

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