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Government underfunding of sexual violence prevention harms
A new report which explores the impact of government
underfunding of sexual violence prevention and support
services has just been released.
The report comes from campaigning organisation ActionStation, and calls for the government to “significantly increase” funding to sexual violence prevention, education, and survivor support in the forthcoming budget due for release in May.
The researchers analysed the financial reports of 38 sexual violence intervention agencies. The gap between government funding and the cost of running services was found to be $7,030,705.
“Limited, unstable and systemic underfunding means services are stretched, stressed and overrun,” says ActionStation director Laura O’Connell-Rapira.
“People who need help are being put on long waiting lists with support agencies left having to make hard choices about who to help first.”
"National Rape Crisis prioritises crisis situations, especially in families with children. Its waiting lists vary around the country; child victims of sexual assault may have to wait five months for therapy."
"Wellington HELP currently has a three-month wait for people seeking counselling, and can only afford to have one person working on its crisis line at night."
Sexual violence is estimated to cost New Zealanders $1.8 billion per year. Treasury has estimated that it is the most expensive of all crimes, “primarily reflecting the impact on victims.”
The other four
recommendations in the report are for the government
ensure:
1. All secondary, primary and ECE schools to
become champions of healthy relationships and
consent.
2. Nationwide coverage of Kaupapa Māori
specialist services.
3. Culturally appropriate, rainbow
specialist and accessible services available to all who need
them.
4. More funding for self-referral services for
people at risk of causing sexual harm, and those who have
already harmed and want to change their
behaviour.
ActionStation
Our mission is to tautoko (support) and whakamana (uplift) everyday New Zealanders to act together in powerful and coordinated ways to create what we cannot achieve on our own: a society, economy and democracy that serves all of us - everyday people and Papatūānuku, the planet we love.
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