15 March 2009

Human rights award to iwi based violence prevention initiative

The Leitner Centre for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School has awarded their annual Alumni Human Rights Prize to Amokura, an iwi led violence prevention initiative based in Whangarei. The Human Rights prize was established to honor an organization the Center has worked with during their annual human rights fact finding mission. The focus of their 2008 mission was New Zealand’s efforts to eliminate violence against women.

‘Amokura coordinated the Tai Tokerau section of the Leitner Centre visit,’ Executive Director Di Grennell explained. ‘Our main interest was to make sure that iwi, Maori and rural issues were recognised in the Centre’s report. The award is an acknowledgement of the commitment of providers, community and iwi across Northland who take a proactive stance to address violence within families.’

The Leitner Centre hosted Di Grennell and Amokura Advocacy- Legal Analyst Ani Pitman at an award dinner.  While in New York they attended and addressed the Fordham Law School Domestic Violence Conference and presented as part of the United Nations Development Programme Civic Engagement Dialogue Series. Their visit also included meeting with Safe Horizon Domestic Law Project and attendance at UN Secretary General’s Ban Ki-moon’s address to mark International Women’s Day.

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