Domestic Violence report

The SST reports:

New Zealand is about to be shamed by a high-profile international human rights group that says we are not doing enough to turn around our horrific record on domestic violence.

My first reaction is good, because we do have a shocking record.

Last week Contesse pointed the finger at the New Zealand government, telling the Star-Times: “Under international law the government must do all it can to prevent domestic violence and punish such acts and if they don’t do everything possible to prevent such violence occurring they are in effect responsible.”

At this stage I start t get worried. Those who hit, kick and punch their partners and children are responsible for domestic violence. Not the Government. Of course the Government should always be looking to improve what it can do, but that does not make them responsible. The use of the term “everything possible” is somewhat alarming also – that could mean a Government social worker placed into every household.  mean that would reduce domestic violence, but would be a disproportionate response.

Contesse says Maori women should be triply protected by the Treaty of Waitangi, international codes for indigenous peoples’ rights, and more generic international human rights conventions.

And again I get worried when they babble on about Maori women being protected under the Treaty of Waitangi from domestic violence. What has that got to do with anything? All women (and men and children) should equally be protected from domestic violence.

The sad reality is that women who get abused generally most need protecting from the partners they choose to live with.

However: “Maori women are much more at risk of being assaulted or threatened by a partner… meaning, the NZ government is particularly failing Maori women in respect to domestic violence.”

Actually those who do the bashing are failing. Now don’t get me wrong – the Government has a role to play. I am a strong advocate of on the spot protection orders for five days. We need to make sure that the laws we have are effective and workable. We need to make sure that the Police and MSD have adequate resources to do their jobs. But let us not forget the prime responsibility lies with those who bash up their families.