The Government is quietly cutting more services for women, this time it’s ACC support for survivors of sexual abuse and pausing the expansion of a major sexual violence prevention programme.

“Continuing the Government’s disturbing pattern of undermining support for women and sexual violence survivors, ACC Minister Scott Simpson has indicated sexual abuse survivors may no longer be supported through ACC,” Labour ACC spokesperson Camilla Belich said.

“People who have suffered severe trauma because of sexual abuse will not have access to mental health or loss of income support under the Minister’s proposal.

“It beggars belief that the Government would consider this straight after cutting women’s future pay.

“As well as looking to write off care for sexual abuse survivors, ACC has indefinitely paused the community-led sexual violence prevention programme ‘Hikitia!’

“This programme was designed to prevent harm before it happens. At a time when sexual violence is surging, the Government should be investing in programmes that help stop it from happening in the first place.

“According to sexual violence service providers, the ACC plans to pause the programme with no plan to support the organisations and communities who’ve been doing this critical work, leaving 80% of the country without coverage, including our biggest cities.

“You can’t say you care about women’s safety and then stop the expansion of sexual violence prevention programmes and cut pay equity claims.

“This Government is continuing to make choices that are harmful to women,” Camilla Belich said.

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