Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme receives NZ Rugby award

The Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme (PPDVP) has been awarded the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association Off Field Achievement Award for 2013.

The annual award recognises excellence in the development process of people involved in rugby. The PPDVP programme partners with New Zealand Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Zealand Rugby to prevent family violence in Pacific countries.

Funded by NZ Aid and managed by New Zealand Police, PPDVP aims to increase the capacity of Police in the Pacific to prevent and respond to domestic violence. The programme partners with New Zealand Rugby to take players from all rugby franchises to the Pacific Islands carrying a strong and consistent non-violent message: "Break the Silence, End the Violence".

Head of the PPDVP, Cam Ronald says "For the rugby-mad people in the Pacific, particularly the young men, these players are true role-models - and to have them stand up and say that violence is not ok - and then get out and run around with them on a playing field, has a tremendous impact - far more than we could ever achieve on our own".

This is the first time a programme has been the recipient of the award, rather than an individual.

Media:

NZ rugby players join anti-violence campaign, TVNZ, 07.11.2014

PPDVP and NZ Police delighted with award from NZ Rugby, NZ Police, 14.02.2014