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Source: ONE News -
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Politicians spoke out on behalf of the female victims of violence on Wednesday.
They were speaking on White Ribbon Day, held to spread the message violence against women should not be tolerated.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia, who chairs the ministerial committee on family violence, says about 14 women were killed by partners or ex-partners every year while one in five women were sexually abused.
Police attended over 73,000 family violence incidents in the 2008-09 financial year in which most victims were women.
"Today men around the world are being encouraged to stand up against violence toward women and children and I call on them not only to heed that message today but for every day of their life," she says.
She praised rugby league player Ruben Wiki for becoming New Zealand's first white ribbon ambassador.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the day helped pull the issue out into the open and she hoped it would make people think.
"Get involved. If you know or suspect something isn't right, you must have the courage to do something about it. Only then will we start tackling this problem."
Associate Disability Minister Pansy Wong says disabled women were one of the highest at risk groups for sexual violence. Women's Affairs research found a third of all sexual violence victims they interviewed had a psychological or physical disability.
The disability clothesline project highlighting the problem of abuse and violence against disabled people was also launched today.
"While it is sickening to many of us that people could prey on someone with a disability, the reality is that disabled people are often chosen as targets because of communication difficulties and other factors that see them remain silent while the violence continues."
Friends, family and the justice system needed to better support the group, Wong says.
Anti-violence message undermined?
Meanwhile, Family First Director Bob McCoskrie says the anti-violence message is being undermined by the media culture.
He says the media, pornography and advertising industries are normalising unacceptable behaviour while the country is trying to tackle it.
McCoskrie says the use of violence against women as the punch line in television comedies such as Family Guy and American Dad also trivialises the seriousness of the issue.
He says higher standards around violent and sexual content in
the media are needed if we are to tackle family violence.
