International Women's Day - calls for action to end violence against women

On International Women's Day, the Auckland Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children has highlighted backwards steps for women in New Zealand. These include the Family Court reforms currently before Select Committee. Spokesperson Leonie Morris said,

“Today is an opportunity for the Government to commit to making real progresstowards women’s equality by re-instating the Taskforce for Action on SexualViolence and the Pay Equity Unit, recommitting to the Domestic Violence Act andwithdrawing the Bill to reform the Family Court.”

“As a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) it is mandatory for our Government to work towards gender equity and exercise due diligence to ensure that it is being carried out. In the CEDAW's official report on New Zealand, it expressed many concerns about the current inequity of the position of women in New Zealand. Disabled women, Maori women, older women and women from ethnic minorities were identified as being particularly vulnerable.”

The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2013 is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”. Events related to violence against women are being held around New Zealand: click here.

Media:

'International Women's Day - 'Govt's day of shame'', Voxy, 8/3/13

'Debbie Hager: Celebration? It's a national day of shame', NZ Herald, 8/3/13

'Practical solutions needed this Women's Day - Moroney', Voxy, 8/3/13

Practical solutions needed this Women's Day - Moroney