Minister urges Maori to support Rape Awareness Week

Senior Anglican Minister and Chair of Te Kahui Mana Ririki, Dr Hone Kaa, is urging Maori to support Rape Awareness Week which begins today.

“Organisers of this week estimate that 1 in every 3-5 girls, and 1 out of every 6-10 boys are likely to be sexually abused or raped before they turn 16. Maori children are twice as likely as other groups to be abused so rape and sexual violation of children is a very serious issue for us.”

 “I urge our people to take time to support Maori organisations working in this difficult area. We have a network of community services around the country doing tremendous work at the frontline.”

Te Kahui Mana Ririki is a charitable trust established this year to implement the recommendations from last year’s Maori Child Abuse Summit Nga Mana Ririki.

“We will focus on advocacy, research and communications. These are the three areas which the hui identified as priorities.”

“One of the first things is holding a cross party hui with Maori politicians in Wellington on 21 May. We need to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the election that all of them continue to support non-violent parenting, and the Family Violence Prevention work that Maori organisations are driving.”

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