Hon Paula Bennett
Minister for Social Development and Employment
Minister of Youth Affairs

24 November 2009
Media Release

Take a stand against violence toward women

White Ribbon Day is a reminder we all need to take action against violence toward women, says the Minister for Social Development and Employment.

Paula Bennett is urging New Zealanders from all walks of life to show they don’t condone or tolerate violence against women or children.

“The abuse of our mothers, aunts, sisters and daughters affects all layers of New Zealand society.

“White Ribbon Day, the 25th of November, is a chance for all of us – most particularly men – to stand up and say “It’s Not OK”.

“In an ideal world, this would happen every day. The more we can do to draw attention to this noxious, behind-doors problem, the better chance we have of saving women from it. It’s simply shameful an average of 14 women are killed by a member of their family in New Zealand each year.

“I will be wearing a white ribbon tomorrow. I hope thousands will join me.

“White Ribbon Day helps pull this issue out into the open. It’s time we took a good look at what’s happening in our communities and stop the mental, physical and sexual abuse of women.

“Get involved. If you know or suspect something isn’t right, you must have the courage to do something about it. Only then will we start tackling this problem,” Paula Bennett says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The Skewed Media Coverage Of Gaza

Now that he’s back as Foreign Minister, maybe Winston Peters should start reading the MFAT website which is currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of how Kiwis alerted the rest of the world to the genocide in Rwanda. How times have changed ...

In 2023, the government is clutching its pearls because senior Labour MP Damien O’Connor has dared suggest that Gaza’s civilian population are also victims of what amounts to genocide... More

Scoop Post Election Podcast: River Of Freedom Review

After reviewing River of Freedom, a documentary about the Wellington parliamentary protest of 2022, the Scoop Political Podcast went into hibernation. Watched by potentially tens of thousands of voters in the weeks prior to Election 23, it was unlikely to have won any votes for Labour. With a new coalition Government now formed, it’s time to look at the impact it had... More