Zonta commends the passing of the Family Violence Act and related Family Violence (Amendments) Act. Zonta made a submission in favour of this new legislation and is committed to supporting its implementation.

Zonta International District 16 Governor, Souella Cumming, says “Zonta is particularly pleased to see the bipartisan approach to the enactment of this new family violence law. This new legislation, coupled with the recent enactment of the victims’ protection legislation, marks significant progress in the reform of anti-violence laws in New Zealand.”

Zonta is actively involved in the “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women campaign”. This campaign strives to prevent and end gender-based violence which affects women and girls.

The new Family Violence legislation champions the prevention of family violence through a series of principles. Zonta supports those principles and also the purpose of the Family Violence Act – to stop and prevent family violence by:

• recognising that family violence, in all its forms, is unacceptable;

• stopping and preventing perpetrators from inflicting family violence; and

• keeping victims, including children, safe from family violence.

In particular, Zonta commends measures in the new law to make protection orders more accessible and to make better use of Police Safety Orders. The new initiatives to more accurately record family violence offending through the criminal justice system are also welcomed.

Zonta International is a leading global organisation of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. It has over 29,500 members in 65 countries and 32 Districts. District 16 comprises 28 Zonta Clubs within New Zealand. In 2019 Zonta globally will celebrate its Centennial.

ENDS

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