Violence against women

Domestic violence must be stamped out at all levels, including leafy suburbs where suppression orders to protect those in high political office who like to show their women the back of their hand.

An anti-violence campaigner has called on Northland men to “man up” and lead the way against domestic violence by speaking up if they see others abusing loved ones.

Hundreds marched through central Whangarei yesterday to protest against domestic violence following the violent death of mother of two Patricia Ann Mcgrath.

The mother of two, nicknamed Wowo, died on January 8 in Whangarei Hospital after she was taken off life support following an assault four days earlier in her Kamo home.  Read more »

ᔥ NZ Herald

Perhaps he might like to assist the National party, since they just seem to think that the best approach to domestic violence is to sweep it all under the carpet and have senior politicians wax lyrical about the standing of Mr B:

For the past two years, the community-minded McGlashan has been the national coordinator and an ambassador for Blow The Whistle On Violence, a nationwide campaign through which sports stars have encouraged families and communities to work together to eliminate domestic violence.

ᔥ White Ribbon Day New Zealand

Simon Bridges made a statement that New Zealand still has a serious family violence problem when talking about a Bay of Plenty Times Weekend story about convicted child abuser Reuben Anthony Major.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says the case is a “graphic illustration” that New Zealand still had a serious family violence problem. A “complete culture change” needed to happen before the problem would be eliminated, he said.

I wonder if he feels the same way about Mr B? What will he do to ensure the party takes the same stand he does and calls out Mr B?

Will he support constitutional change that requires all applicants for Regional and Board positions to declare whether or not they are subject to any court action or even if they are subject to any name suppression orders?

ᔥ Yahoo

Domestic Violence in any form is unacceptable…unfortunately powerful and connected people like to sweep things under the carpet. This video gets cut through on the issue, as part of the Don’t Cover it Up campaign for Refuge in the UK:

Luke’s make-up videos have racked up more than 126 million views and her 440,000-plus subscribers, most of whom are young and female, are the target audience for a new campaign by the U.K.-based charity Refuge, to raise awareness about domestic violence. According to Refuge, one woman in four experiences domestic violence during her lifetime, two women are killed each week by a current or former partner, and 65 percent of victims try to keep the abuse hidden. The copy at the end of Luke’s video simply reads, “Don’t cover it up. Share this and help someone speak out. #dontcoveritup”

I wonder when Mr B. and his supporters will stop covering it up?

ᔥ Sydney Morning Herald

Some good moves in Australia to widen the definition of domestic violence. If such changes were made here then people wouldn;t be able to whispetr around the parlimanetary precinct that “she was mad anyway, he never hit her and she deserved it anyway” as they excuse the domestic violence of a senior political figure:

The definition of domestic violence will be expanded to include emotional manipulation, withholding money and harming the family pet under controversial changes to family law.

The changes, which become law on Thursday, for the first time broaden the definition of violence beyond physical abuse to other damaging actions , including:

•  Stalking;
•  Repeated derogatory taunts;
•  Intentionally damaging or destroying property; and
•  Preventing someone having contact with family and friends.

Women’s groups argue the changes tip the balance of family law back towards putting the safety of children first, while men’s rights groups fear they will rob children of time with both parents.

Under the changes, the Family Court will be required to ask parents if there was abuse or a threat of abuse in the relationship.

ᔥ Sydney Morning Herald

As blogged earlier, the NRL has tougher standards than New Zealand political parties.

The new Australian Rugby League Commission has suspended Cowboys halfback Robert Lui for a year and Sharks player Isaac Gordon for nine matches after both were found guilty of domestic violence-related assaults.

If the White Ribbon campaign wants to maximise its publicity this year it should ask which political parties are protecting senior members with suppression orders for domestic violence?