Public pressure required to address family violence and child poverty - Salvation Army
Thu 13 Feb 2014
The Salvation Army has expressed deep concern at the continuing lack of progress of the elimination of family violence in New Zealand in its ...
The Salvation Army has expressed deep concern at the continuing lack of progress of the elimination of family violence in New Zealand in its 2014 State of the Nation report.
The report, entitled Striking a Better Balance, describes a lack of progress in reducing child poverty, family violence, the harmful use of alcohol and the failure to address criminal re-offending and serious crime.
Salvation Army Social Policy Director, Major Campbell Roberts, says more public pressure is required for the government to take these matters seriously. He says, “New Zealanders are failing to convince Government that the elimination of family violence and child poverty should be a greater priority. A better balance in economic and social policy is required to put a significant dent in child poverty and domestic violence.”
State of the Nation reports are designed to provide New Zealanders with a broad snapshot of social progress over the last five years to support and inform public debate. The reports are not intended to be a comprehensive and complete assessment of all relevant indicators, but provide consideration of 21 indicators across five topics: children's wellbeing, crime and punishment, work and incomes, social hazards, and housing.
It is suggested that the report be read alongside research commissioned by the Families Commission and carried out by the Clearinghouse:
Media:
Child abuse statistics appall Sensible Sentencing Trust, 13.02.14
Bold policies needed to tackle child poverty, Media release: Child Poverty Action Group, 12.02.14
Salvation Army: child poverty in NZ is a timebomb, Radio NZ, 12.02.14
Too much talk and not enough action, NewstalkZB, 12.02.14
Kiwi children still getting a raw deal – Ardern, Voxy, 12.02.14
Poverty and domestic violence 'not taken seriously enough', Voxy, 12.02.14
NZ 'not doing enough' to stop poverty, violence, TVNZ, 12.02.14
State of our nation: Crime, jobs and our kids - things are looking up, NZ Herald, 12.02.14
Good news on state of our nation, NZ Herald, 12.02.14
Child abuse rates like a 'terminal cancer' for NZ - Family First, Voxy, 12.02.14
Child poverty and domestic violence not taken seriously enough, Salvation Army, 11.02.14
Image: iStock