Auckland Women’s Centre Calls For Govt To Fully Invest In RespectEd And Work To Stop Dangerous Campaigns Of Misogyny
by Auckland Women's Center · SCOOPAuckland Women’s Centre strongly supports RespectEd, a service working to prevent sexual violence, in its call for government to reverse sector funding cuts as otherwise RespectEd will have to shut in a matter of weeks.
“When it comes to addressing sexual violence, primary prevention is absolutely vital, to prevent all trauma and potential long-term harm,” said Centre spokesperson Leonie Morris. “In an overlooked field at a dangerous time, RespectEd is doing important, necessary work with schools, workplaces, prisons, and other communities. We need to be increasing investment in such work exponentially.”
But this term, the government has defunded women’s self-defence organisation Kia Haumaru; it has removed a key tool of violence prevention from schools – the Tiriti-based relationships and sexuality education guidelines; and it has removed promised ACC funding for community-based sexual violence prevention programmes elsewhere, affecting RespectEd and other organisations.
“Right now, women, girls and their whānau face destructive campaigns of sexism and disrespect linked to sexual violence – and the government is assisting that misogyny,” said Leonie Morris, Auckland Women’s Centre spokesperson. “What, exactly, is the government prioritising over our safety and freedom?”
“The state should be fighting gender-based abuse – rapidly becoming the number one threat to our democracy – with all it’s got. Aotearoa New Zealand could and should enable women’s freedom with world-leading investment in prevention of all disrespect and violence.
“We were once world leaders in gender equity – and we can be so again.”
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