Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Refugee-background Communities Welcome Campaign

For Immediate Release

Refugee-background Communities Welcome Wellington Family Violence Campaign

A new campaign against family violence has been welcomed by ChangeMakers Refugee Forum.

The campaign will be launched today and features two representatives from Wellington's refugee-background community.

'We need to educate and we can't wait' says Faduma Moallin, leader of the Somali community and who features in campaign posters.

Family violence occurs across all religious and cultural groups - regardless of ethnicity or citizenship. However, international research has found that immigrant families experience higher incidences of family violence than their 'local' counterparts, and there is increasing awareness about the heightened risk of family violence faced by refugee-background women.

Faduma Moallin, a staunch anti-violence advocate, says 'There is no culture that allows this. There is no religion. This is abuse. Full stop.'

Refugee women and children have been identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as one of the most vulnerable groups in the world. Family violence can be a result of compounding stressors such as past torture and trauma, the pressures of resettlement in an unfamiliar culture, changes to family structures, financial problems, discrimination, isolation, and difficulties in accessing essential services.

John Aloro, leader of the Sudanese community, also features in the campaign and says 'Everyone has the right to a peaceful coexistence - saying sorry after doesn't change the fact that damage has been done.'

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The Wellington campaign includes a website of services that can make it easier for people who are living with violence to get help. 'Being silent makes it worse. You can only demand more in your life by asking for help' says John Aloro.

'Women from refugee backgrounds may not report violence for many

reasons: fear of what might happen - with little English and lack of good employment options - if they leave; not wanting to bring shame on their communities or be ostracised; or for the simple fact that they don't know there are organisations that can help,' ChangeMakers research coordinator Alia Bloom said.

'We need to raise awareness within refugee-background communities about services, explain family violence law in New Zealand, and let people know they have the right to seek support and live free from violence. We also need services to connect with refugee-background families, and build their own understanding of the unique, compounding factors that can lead to the vulnerability of refugee-background families to violence.'

ChangeMakers Refugee Forum is a non-profit refugee advocacy and community development organisation in Wellington. ChangeMakers is a member of the Te Rito Family Violence Network.

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.