MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

22 NOVEMBER 2006

Jigsaw Fully Supports The Women Reclaim The Night Walk

Jigsaw support and encourage women and children to take part in the Women Reclaim The Night walk tomorrow starting at Waitangi Park at 8.30pm.

The walk will symbolise the rejection of the belief that ‘women should not walk alone at night’ and ‘women should be careful what they wear and who they talk to’.

Tau Huirama, Jigsaw Chief Executive Officer Strategic Relations, is supportive of the walk and encourages women and children to take part.

“Women and children should be safe at night and this walk will increase awareness that it is not right for women and children to feel unsafe walking at night or any other time. It is great that the walk can take part during White Ribbon week which aims to increase awareness about men’s violence toward women and children.”

Mr. Huirama thinks the key messages that are being put across through the walk are great and completely agrees with them.

‘It is often said that if a woman or a child is harmed while walking at night it is their fault. This is not true. Regardless of what time a woman wants to go for a walk by herself or with a child, they should feel safe. The current attitude of the general public suggests that it is the victim’s fault for walking late at night or for the way they dress. This is wrong. We need to change people’s attitudes so they know it is not the victim’s fault, but the attacker’s fault.’

The walk is for women and children only. Mr. Huirama believes that men still have a part to play . They can encourage the women and children in their lives to take part in the event.

‘We think the men of Wellington in their roles as fathers, partners, brothers, nephews, granddads and sons need to encourage their family and friends to take part in the walk by respecting the fact that it is a women and children only event.’

The Women Reclaim The Night walk is organized by a group of women who come together from a variety of backgrounds work together against sexual violence against women and children.

ENDS

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