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

 

Calls for prevention training for Wellington bar staff

Sexual Abuse Prevention Network calls for prevention training for Wellington bar staff, including The Establishment Bar, bouncer convicted of rape yesterday


Media release for immediate release


14/11/14

Yesterday a bouncer from the Wellington Establishment Bar was convicted of rape[1] amid appalling victim blaming comments from his defence lawyer, the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network wants to see more hospitality staff (both bar staff and bouncers) being trained in sexual violence prevention.

Natalie Gousmett, member of the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network Management Group, says “it is disappointing that The Establishment has not yet taken up the opportunity for training in this area and we hope we can work with them in the future. People working in venues that serve alcohol are in an ideal position to play a role in preventing sexual abuse. It is the responsibility of these establishments to ensure that they provide a safe environment. For a bouncer, whose primary role is to ensure a safe environment for alcohol to be consumed, to target and rape a drunk young woman is abhorrent.”

The Sexual Abuse Prevention Network has run programmes with staff from a number of bars in the Wellington Region. Feedback from bar staff who attended the training shows an increase in their knowledge of sexual violence, the law and consent, and improved skills and confidence to intervene in potentially unsafe situations.

In New Zealand, half of all rapes committed are associated with alcohol – half of all sexual assaults are committed by men who have been drinking alcohol and approximately half of all sexual assault victims also report having consumed alcohol pre-assault.[2]

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 programmes offered by Sexual Abuse Prevention Network are based on the idea that everyone can play a role in preventing sexual abuse. A key focus of the workshops is on ethical bystander interventions. An ethical bystander is someone who can identify potentially unsafe situations and takes action that is safe for them and helps to mitigate any negative consequences that may otherwise have eventuated. The Network uses the ‘Who are you?’[3] video in its programmes, an ethical bystander tool developed in Wellington in collaboration with several other agencies - www.whoareyou.co.nz

Sexual Abuse Prevention Network, a collaboration of Wellington Rape Crisis, Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation and WellStop offers primary prevention programmes for rape and sexual abuse, including the “It’s Our Business” programme that targets professionals in the hospitality industry, such as bar tenders and bouncers.

Ends

www.wellingtonrapecrisis.ogr.nz/prevention

[1] http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9397528/Rape-victim-could-have-closed-legs-says-lawyer

2 “Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence Paper: Review of Associations between Drugs (including Alcohol) and Sexual Violence”.

3 A collaboration between Police, Wellington Sexual Health Service, Radio Network and the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network

© 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.