UNICEF NEW ZEALAND

MEDIA RELEASE 19th October 2006

UNICEF NEW ZEALAND

UNICEF New Zealand welcomes today’s release of the Save the Children publication; ‘Voices against Violence.’

“This publication backs up what was said in the recent United Nations report on violence against children and has immediate relevance for the issues faced by New Zealand s children. Its six key recommendations provide a powerful call to action.”

Says Dennis McKinlay executive director of UNICEF New Zealand
He goes on to add:

“New Zealand has a serious problem with violence against our most precious and vulnerable citizens and we need to get serious about finding solutions. As the report points out; we need to prohibit all forms of violence against children and place children’s safety and human rights at the forefront of social policy.”

The advocacy manager of UNICEF New Zealand David Kenkel says:

“We are a country that loves children but our care for the wellbeing, rights and dignity of the youngest in our communities has not always been what it should.

New Zealand's national commitment to children was demonstrated by our signing up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children in 1993. However; we need to act on our commitment to children in the sorts of tangible ways today's release recommends, such as repealing legislation like section 59 of the crimes act that provides an excuse in law for violence against children.”

ENDS

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