Thursday, 3 May 2007

Child killer study shows Labour's approach is flawed

A new finding that suggests mothers and fathers are equally likely to kill their children, is a blinding reminder that the Governments gender-based response to family violence is fundamentally flawed and potentially costing lives.

A study from Victoria University has found that mothers and fathers are equally likely to kill their children.

"The gendered approach to family violence from the Government, assumes that only men commit family violence and that only women and children are victims. Despite evidence to the contrary, Labour refuses to let go of their ideological dogmatism," says United Future family spokesperson, Judy Turner.

"New Zealand's two major longitudinal studies both suggest that men and women are equally likely to be violent in the home."

Professor David Fergusson concluded that indicators such as upbringing and social environment and family dysfunction are better predictors of perpetrators of family violence than solely looking at Gender.

"However the MSD lead campaign for "Changing attitudes and behaviour" for which the Government forked out $11.5 million and the Families Commission $2.5 million, will focus only on changing the attitudes and behaviour of violent men and completely ignores women."

"This Government refuses to recognise or confront violence by women and mothers, instead exclusively focusing on male perpetrators. The Government should simply be targeting all those who are violent in the home - regardless of gender.

"This study is another sad reminder of the terrible record of child abuse that we have in this country. It is tragic that millions of dollars being spent in the area of family violence, but close to half the perpetrators are being ignored."

"The intro to the Taskforce for Action on Violence Within Families campaign says that 'We need to condemn violence whenever and wherever it occurs." I agree; so I question why our policy to combat family violence is to ignore violence done by half the population?

"The Government should start listening to the evidence rather than theory. Our children and families are the ones that suffer the consequences of a Government wearing ideological blinkers," says Mrs Turner.

ENDS

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