TOAH-NNEST
Press Release
09 March 2017
Sexual Violence Concerns around Data Sharing
TOAH-NNEST, as a national network of Sexual Violence agencies, opposes the new expectation of NGO contractors to supply
MSD with individual client level data. The sharing of individual client data threatens to undermine what the Sexual
Violence sector believes to be best practice in the sexual violence sector. TOAH-NNEST believes such information sharing
will create huge barriers to access across all services. TOAH-NNEST asks the government and Minister Tolley to consider
a collaborative and sustainable way forward to meet their goals.
TOAH-NNEST are not alone in raising these concerns. Working together with several social service networks, such as
CommVoices, as well as our local agencies, the NGO sector are challenging MSD’s client data collection as a breach of
personal privacy, a breach of professional codes of conduct and the privacy act itself.
Ms Lyons, Tauiwi National Manager, is concerned about the government’s lack of transparency and lack of clearly
articulated purpose behind the data collection. Ms Lyons states that “there is real vagueness surrounding the
implementation of MSD individual client data collection and many questions are left unanswered around safeguarding the
data for some of our most vulnerable; those impacted by sexual violence in our communities and their children and
families.”
Nga Kaitiaki Mauri spokesperson Ms Te Wiata says “The identifiable client data collection by MSD will have massive
ripple effects on our prevention efforts, and hinder accessibility for whanau seeking help as victims of sexual violence
as well as those who need to access services to address their harmful behaviour.”
TOAH-NNEST commends the brave position taken by The National Collective of Rape Crisis and Related groups of Aotearoa to
not accept funding, if MSD require them to pass on individual client data. Unfortunately, not all agencies can make this
call for their services during this highly insecure funding climate.
Tauiwi Caucus Chair, Ms Tai Rakena confirms “the network is seriously concerned about the future sustainability of the
specialist sexual violence sector, should this requirement proceed.” Given the Government’s recent significant efforts
to address the issue of Sexual Violence and in particular its under reporting, the requirement to share identifiable
information is likely to seriously threaten progress.
TOAH-NNEST seeks to collaborate with local agencies and government to ensure services are funded and accessible
throughout the country, while ensuring our communities right to privacy are maintained.
Additional Information:
Comvoices have written to ministers to raise these serious concerns and to seek agreement to working on an alternative approach.
The paper – A Proposal to Build a Robust, Evidence-Based Learning system for Social Investment –sets out the concerns in detail and a proposal to work together.
Coverage on the Family Violence Clearinghouse website
Media coverage of the issues include:
Rape Crisis rejects data-for-funding contracts
Murray Edridge from MSD on Nine to Noon
Brenda Pilott’s interview on Nine to Noon.
Additional Articles