NZFVC Quick Reads: 17 July 2024

NZFVC Quick Reads: 17 July 2024

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa. See all past NZFVC Quick reads.

Survivor feedback invited on Ministry of Education sensitive claims process

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is setting out to improve its sensitive claims process for abuse in a New Zealand state school. Tūhono Collective has been contracted by the Ministry to help design the process. They are seeking feedback on the draft design from: survivors and advocates, Māori and Pacific peoples, and people with experience of the Ministry’s sensitive claims process. If you are interested in giving feedback you can complete an online form or email zeb.tupai@laidlaw.co.nz by 19 July 2024. This work is separate to the Crown Response Unit’s work on a wider redress system.

MOJ stocktake report on child participation in family court

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has released the Review of Children’s Participation in the Family Justice System of Aotearoa New Zealand (2022). MOJ commissioned the report to assist with the implementation of the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Act 2021 which includes a provision that children must be given reasonable opportunities to participate in any decision affecting them.

Pūmahara Ia Te Wā Queer History Month Aotearoa

This July marks the first Pūmahara Ia Te Wā Queer History Month in Aotearoa, an initiative of Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa and the National Library. The whakataukī for this year’s Queer History Month is,

“He kitenga kanohi, he hokinga mahara.
He kawenga mahara, he hāpori kitea.
A familiar face stirs one’s memories.
A collection of memories is a community seen.”

Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa, formerly Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand (LAGANZ), collects, preserves, and make available for research the records and personal papers of queer and takatapui people and organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. For those who would like to contribute to the work of Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa, they hold virtual drop-in sessions for anyone wanting to volunteer their time.

New research on sexual violence prevalence in Australia. 

A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology examined the sexual violence prevalence rates among adult Australians, Perpetration of sexual violence in a community sample of adult Australians (2024). The study surveyed 5,076 adult Australians about their use of sexual violence. It defined sexual violence broadly to include sexual harassment and coercion, sexual assault, and image-based sexual abuse. The study’s findings were summarised in an article for The Conversation, New research shows 1 in 5 Australians have perpetrated sexual violence in their adult lives. The true rate might even be worse.