Assault

National Strategies: Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families and Action Plan to Reduce Community Violence & Sexual Violence

Violence is an issue of concern to all New Zealanders. People are more fearful of violence than any other type of crime, and it can have devastating effects on individuals, families and communities.

Background and Relevant Strategies Agencies involved Action plan to reduce community and sexual violence Key violence-related resources

Background and Relevant Strategies

It is hard to measure exactly how much violence exists in society, but research shows:

The Scale and Nature of Family Violence in New Zealand (Lievore and Mayhew, 2007, VUW) examines what is known about the nature and scale of family violence in New Zealand and assesses the quality of the evidence

There are two areas of strategic work being undertaken to prevent violence in New Zealand.

  • The Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families leads a significant body of inter-agency work aimed towards eliminating family violence in New Zealand; and
  • The Ministry of Justice is leading the development of an Action Plan to help reduce community violence and sexual violence.

These two related streams of work also come under the umbrella of the Government's Crime Reduction Strategy.

Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families

The Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families is a significant commitment by the government and non-government sectors, independent Crown entities and the judiciary to work together and provide leadership to end family violence and promote stable, healthy families.

The Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families was established in June 2005 to advise the Family Violence Ministerial Team on how to make improvements to the way family violence is addressed, and to eliminate family violence in New Zealand.

Membership of the Ministerial Team can be found at
www.msd.govt.nz/work-areas/families-whanau/action-family-violence/ministerial.html

This is the first time decision-makers from the government and non-government sectors, the judiciary and Crown agencies have come together to tackle the problem of family violence and achieve this vision.

Membership of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families can be found at www.msd.govt.nz/work-areas/families-whanau/action-family-violence/taskforce-info.html

More information about the Taskforce can be found at the Ministry of Social Development's website.

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Campaign for Action on Family Violence

The Campaign for Action on Family Violence is a major initiative of the Taskforce for Action on Violence Within Families , which advises the government on family violence issues. The Campaign is part of a community-wide movement led by individuals and organisations throughout New Zealand who are working together to help prevent family violence. It will provide information, resources and support to create a society that says family violence is never ok.

The Campaign is being led by the Ministry of Social Development and the Families Commission, in association with communities. It is supported by ACC , the Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Police.

More information about the Taskforce can be found at the Ministry of Social Development's website.

The membership of the Taskforce is as follows;

Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive (Chair)
Ministry of Justice Secretary
Ministry of Education Secretary
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Chief Executive
Ministry of Health Director General
Ministry of Women's Affairs Chief Executive
Chief District Courts Judge
Principal Family Court Judge
Chief Families Commissioner
Children's Commissioner
Te Puni Kokiri Chief Executive
Commissioner of NZ Police
Ministry of Social Development, Deputy Chief Executive, Social Services Policy Ministry of Social Development
Ministry of Social Development, Deputy Chief Executive, Family and Community Services
Ministry of Social Development, General Manager, Service Development, Child, Youth and Family
Accident Compensation Corporation Chief Executive
Chief Executives of five NGOs representing;
The Te Rito Advisory Committee (National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, Jigsaw (formerly Child Abuse Prevention Services) and Relationship Services
The Family Services National Advisory Group (CCS and Tamaki Community Development Trust)
Representatives from the Taskforce’s Maori Reference and Pacific Advisory Groups

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Action plan to reduce community and sexual violence

Many Government agencies and community organisations were consulted on, and participated in, the development of the Action Plan.

Government agencies. Non-Government agencies.
ACC Hospitality Association of New Zealand
Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand The Internet Safety Group
Department of Child Youth and Family Services Local Government New Zealand
Department for Courts (before it merged with Ministry of Justice in October 2003) Neighbourhood Support
Department of Corrections New Zealand Maori Council
Department of Internal Affairs National Network of Stopping Violence Services
Housing New Zealand Corporation Rape Crisis
Land Transport and Safety Authority SAFE Network
Ministry of Education Victim Support
Ministry of Health Wellington STOP
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Women's Refuge
Ministry of Social Development The network of 65 New Zealand Safer Community Councils
Ministry of Women's Affairs  
New Zealand Police
Te Puni Kokiri

For any inquiries please contact the Secretariat to the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence at: sv.taskforce@justice.govt.nz

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Key violence-related resources

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