In Honour of Rape Awareness Week

Published: May 1, 2012

by Jan Logie

According to the Minister of Women’s Affairs media release today “The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is investigating how we can prevent revictimisation, better understand the impacts on victims, and better support these girls and women”.

Three years on from a major review which involved all relevant government departments and leaders in the field we need action not more investigation.

So in honour of Rape Awareness Week, May1-7, I would like to offer 7 suggestions to the Government primarily sourced from the 2009 Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence:

1)    Regularly and publically report on your progress towards implementing the recommendations of the 2009 Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence (TASV).

2)    Immediately increase funding to specialist sexual abuse services.

3)    Redo the stocktake of government spending on specialist sexual abuse services so that it is understandable i.e isn’t so broad as to include benefit payments that might be being received by perpetrators and victims/survivors. The Minister of Social development promised a review of specialist services but her department delivered a P.R exercise.

4)    Commit to introduce legislation in line with the Law Commission’s recommendations relating to pre-trial and trial processes.

5)    In partnership with TOAH-NNEST, the umbrella organisation of specialist services, develop an implementation plan to ensure high quality crisis services are available throughout the country.

6)    Increase the availability, and enhance the capacity of Tangata Whenua and Tauiwi providers including specialist services for Pasifika, Asian, all ages and all genders.

7)    With TOAH-NNEST, evaluate and address the adequacy of funding for the provision of community treatment for offenders as well as early intervention and prevention services.

Published in Justice & Democracy by Jan Logie on Tue, May 1st, 2012   

Tags: Minister of Women's Affairs, sexual violence, Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence, women's affairs

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1. Andrew Atkin

   Posted May 2, 2012 at 9:51 AM

   The most devastating and pervasive rape is the incestuous stuff done on young girls in the home. The trauma and follow-through emotional problems are enormous.

   Like or Dislike: 0  0 (0)
2. Michael Hallager

   Posted May 2, 2012 at 10:40 PM

   I strongly disagree with the targeting within this article and Andrew’s comment because it perpetrates the myth that the problem is specifically “rape” (a narrow term defined by dictionary.com as unlawful sexual intercourse) committed against females – and by extension this is the intended demographic for concern and support. According to the statistics quoted on this page: http://survivor.org.nz/?page_id=111 1/4 females and 1/6 to 1/10 males is a victim. Whatever the exact numbers, I unfortunately have to agree that the problem is massive. Male sexual abuse victims are equally ashamed but few people dare talk about it – it is swept under the carpet. I hope in Green party tradition of gender equality and open debate that we can widen this discussion to where it should be at.

   Like or Dislike: 3  0 (+3)
3. Miles

   Posted May 7, 2012 at 5:02 PM

   Quote “better understand the impacts on victims, and better support these girls and women”. – girls and women? – what ever happened to boys and perhaps to a lesser extent men? This sort of discrimination makes me very angry – maybe Jan Logie mentions it – but I didn’t read any more because it made me so angry…. what sort of person is Jan Logie?

   Like or Dislike: 3  0 (+3)
4. Michael Hallager

   Posted May 9, 2012 at 12:27 AM

   I feel I should put my hand up here. To this day I still wonder if my issues around personal space and deep seated suspicion of intimate relationships has anything to do with what happened. I thought I had buried it until I hit the wall a few years ago after a stressful O.E. Then it came flooding back…. Unfortunately I have no answers to offer this thread.

   Like or Dislike: 0  0 (0)
5. Trevor29

   Posted May 9, 2012 at 1:13 AM

   Miles – if you read more carefully, you will see that Jan Logie is quoting a ministry press release. Further down, Jan writes “including specialist services for Pasifika, Asian, all ages and all genders”.

   It isn’t Jan that is biased…

   Trevor.

   Like or Dislike: 1  0 (+1)
6. Michael Hallager

   Posted May 9, 2012 at 11:23 AM

   Trevor29 – I don’t think Jan Logie is biased, however I can understand Mile’s reaction. There is a lot of these sentiments pushed out there and they are just about all gender biased in some way or all. The above is no exception. This is a sensitive subject. If we were all totally rational about such subjects sexual assault would happen a lot less or not at all.

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