Media Release for immediate release

23 September 2013

Wellington Rape Crisis urges people to submit to select committee inquiry

Wellington Rape Crisis (WRC) is urging as many people and organisations as possible to submit to the Social Services Select Committee Inquiry on Funding for Sexual Abuse Services. Submissions close on Thursday 10 October 2013.

WRC Agency Manager, Natalie Gousmett says “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tell parliament these vital services for those impacted by rape and sexual abuse need sustainable funding. Along with many specialist sexual violence services nationally, WRC has struggled to continue providing core services to survivors and their support people because of underfunding; unless the funding environment changes significantly WRC will need to make some hard decisions in 2014. We provide extremely effective and efficient services that benefit the whole community. It would be a tragedy if that service were no longer available to people in the Wellington region.”

1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men report they experience unwanted and distressing sexual contact over their lifetime[1]. WRC provides free counselling and social work to hundreds of survivors and their support people every year and continues to see an increase in demand for services without an increase in funding. WRC currently receives 25% of its income from Government and the rest is gained through contestable grant funding applications and fundraising activities. “We sorely need some secure and sustainable funding and hope that this inquiry will recommend change to ensure the longevity of these services”, says Gousmett, “please take this rare opportunity to have your voices heard and stand up for the needs of survivors”.

Submissions can be made online www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/ or can be posted in. Wellington Rape Crisis is running a free submission writing workshop on Monday 7 October 5.30pm – 7pm at St John’s in the City. You can also see a video message on submissions from Natalie Gousmett here.

Ends

For more information

http://www.wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz/blog/submissions

https://www.greens.org.nz/recommended-bills/inquiry-funding-specialist-sexual-violence-social-services

http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/50SCSS_SCF_00DBSCH_INQ_12392_1/inquiry-into-the-funding-of-specialist-sexual-violence

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