NZFVC Quick Reads: 2 July 2024

NZFVC Quick Reads: 2 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.

NZCVS  evaluation report and latest findings

Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice released a summary report from the Evaluation of the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (2024). The report was commissioned to assess the New Zealand Crime Victims Survey (NZCVS) and provide recommendations for improvement. The recommendations include reviewing questions related to family violence and sexual violence, hosting a symposium to discuss the results, using a booster for more young participants (age 15 to 19), and a new Māori booster to more effectively increase Māori participation. The Ministry of Justice also released the most recent findings from the NZCVS. 

Research on peer support for male survivors of sexual abuse 

Tautoko Tāne Male Survivors Aotearoa published part two of a research project on support services for male survivors of sexual violence Thriving, just not just surviving: The experiences of male survivors of historical sexual abuse in Aotearoa / New Zealand – Part 2: Peer support as a pathway forward (2024). This report looked at what does and doesn’t work well in peer support, and how peer support could be improved. 

BSA report on survey of community attitudes about gender diversity   

The Broadcasting Standards Authority | Te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho (BSA) released the report, 2024 Litmus test of BSA decisions – Public attitudes towards gender identity issues on TV/Radio (2024). The research explores community attitudes towards gender identity issues and whether the BSA’s decisions reflect these attitudes and are understood by the public. The survey found New Zealanders see significant public interest in airing diverse views on gender identity but are concerned about the potential for community harm. The BSA shared a summary of the report’s findings in the media release.

New resources for trans and gender diverse people, their partners and practitioners

Zoe Belle Gender Collective, an Australian based trans and gender diverse led advocacy organisation, has created new resources. Gender euphoria and sex (2023) is a resource for trans and gender diverse people exploring gender, sex and consent. Gender diversity, sex and consent (2024) is a resource for people who want to learn more about healthy sexual relationships with trans and gender diverse people. Responding to the objectification, fetishisation and sexual exploitation of trans women and trans feminine people by cisgender men: A Transfemme practice guide (2024) is for health and community practitioners who want to better understand how to identify and address objectification, fetishisation and sexual exploitation of transgender women by cisgender men. These resources build on their web resource, Transfemme, a project focused on preventing cis men’s violence against trans women and trans feminine people.

Australian research on police response to suicide threats in family violence

Researcher Jessica Woolley published research Policing perpetrator suicide threats in family violence cases: competing priorities and contemporary challenges (2023). This article draws on the perspectives of ten specialist family violence officers from Victoria Police to provide insight into the policing of suicide threats in the context of coercive control. The author also wrote an article discussing the research for The Conversation.