Human Rights Commission welcomes The Way Forward report
EEO Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue has welcomed The Way Forward report on an integrated system for Intimate Partner
Violence, Child Abuse and Neglect.
“The Way Forward report is truly a way forward. We’re not starting from scratch, all the jigsaw pieces are there we just
need to connect them,” said Dr Blue.
“As a country New Zealand is small and agile enough to make this happen: we have the opportunity to lead the world in
actively reducing violence, abuse and neglect.”
The Way Forward maintains that existing regional family violence networks and inter agency response systems are
disconnected and isolated from one another. It recommends a new national agency to coordinate those working to respond
to child abuse and domestic violence. Regional hubs linking services and professionals with a “right door” approach to
help seekers are other recommendations.
“We don’t need any more reports to tell us that we have a violence problem: we have a violence epidemic and a succession
of policies and plans have failed to make any real inroads so the kind of change advocated by this report is needed,”
said Dr Blue.
“What’s needed most of all is good will from all political parties and buy in from organisations and people working
across the sector. This isn’t a time to let politics, egos or ideologies to get in the way.”
ENDS