Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network

Te Arai Hou Ata Mahi O Aotearoa

Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Need To Be Heard

Dr. Dyall Co-chair of Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network supports Mr. Garth McVicar from Sensible Sentencing Trust supporting Karen Beaumont and Anne-Marie Forsyth for their stance that the women and children whom are often the victims of sexual abuse should have the right if they wish for their identity to be known and their situation should not be used to protect the identity of the abuser.

Dr. Dyall supported Mr. Garth McVicar view that the that the High Court ruling protecting the identity of a convicted sex offender is a sad day for women and children for we know from research in New Zealand, that the majority of domestic violence and sexual offending is New Zealand is not reported and therefore this behaviour continues.

Not supporting victims makes it harder for them to be heard, seen and to receive the support that they need to live with the abuse or often breach of trust within a family or whanau system

As an organisation Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network supports both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual offending, providing support and services which are whanau centric, are empowering and enabling for all, they support access to medical and health care, offer free counselling and provide help after people have admitted or own their offences by way of restorative justice services.

Dr. Dyall supports the stance of the Sensible Sentencing Trust that not supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence can make it more difficult for women and children and for them to negotiate New Zealand’s justice and legal systems and especially if you do not have support or financial resources to seek and achieve justice.

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