8 March 2013

Media Release

International Women’s Day puts spotlight on Violence against Women

“Today is International Women’s Day and it’s an opportunity for us to turn the spotlight on the key issues facing women globally and in New Zealand. One of the most pernicious of these is violence against women and girls,” National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) President Barbara Arnold said today.

Barbara Arnold noted that International Women’s Day coincides with the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. This session is geared towards finding more effective ways to prevent violence against women and girls.

“Violence against women is a significant issue for women in NZ, particularly Maori, Pacific and minority women,” said Barbara Arnold. “In July last year the UN Committee which monitors the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW ) highlighted this regrettable fact and has asked the New Zealand Government to:

• effectively prosecute and adequately punish all violence against women

• train the judiciary, public officials, law enforcement personnel and health-service providers so that they can adequately respond to violence against women

• collect adequate data on all forms of violence against women

• research the prevalence, causes and consequences of violence against all groups of women

• identify the reasons for the decline in the issuance of protective orders

• put in place additional protective measures for women, such as enabling the police to issue protective orders.

“NCWNZ is working with other women’s groups to make sure these changes happen,” Barbara Arnold said.

ENDS

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