In every New Zealand classroom.
The stark reality behind New Zealand’s family violence statistics has seen the emergence of a new profession – that of Child Victim Advocate practitioner. Child Advocates from around New Zealand will gather on 4 October 2007 for a Hui sponsored by the Family Safety Team (FST) initiative and supported by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). The Hui aims to establish and maintain a national network of Child Advocates as well as to share information, debate advocacy issues and establish interest groups with particular advocacy focus.
The NSPNZ is on the march. Using the school as an entry point – now that hasn’t been done before, has it!
What is the NSPNZ?
Comment by Hans Laven — Fri 28th September 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Bevan,
I am aware of an initiative already incorporated (newly drafted) into court processes that involves the child’s voice being supported. The intiative to my knowledge does not conclude that the children are victims of a domestic situation rather that they require an avenue to express their situation, in a manner empathic to them. Self empowerment. The article is inconsistent with this view and it is a reasonable observation to accept that the intiative of the Hui is principled to adult empowerment. The menz movement, us, have been complaining for some period that women’s violence is not calculated fairly and it is overlooked as in need to be addressed by processes that conclude on any issue involving domestic violence. The menz movement, again to employ a term that separates away from that recognising accepted instiutions of advocacy for fathers or men has not been consulted in these areas where new policy is instituted. The new policy is accepted as the status quo as being an effective answer to combat high levels of domestic violence towards children. So infact nothing has changed.
The initiative about which I talk, in my opinion will be highly succesful. Its base does not exclude the value of teh father, and deals with the human component as adopted by the child in a fashion of mature compassion. Yet it has been designed by a woman. Additionally it is adapted to another policy sourced from overseas, so I am reasonably unfamiliar with its end condition. Accepting this initiative whether or not consistent with the hui as the status quo, neither form will have adapted to any consideration separating male violence against that of a woman’s, Vilence will just be recorded in blanket definition. The word “violence” will be uttered and every person in the room will comprehend exactly and accurately what it means. This, of course is not true. As it is not true then a child. any child, cannot be protected by the conclusions drawn from the hui. It will not be fair on the child to draw conclusions that put into place a practice that disaffects violence in the family where there is nothing to compete with violence that may exists yet resides unquestioned.
If this observation can be accepted, then surely it is important to cintinue to apply child centred principled, that empower the child, and to accomodate an even comprehension on how a child can be damaged, to recognise that behaviours other than those of physical or sexual abuse demand equal recognition if the child is truly to be protected.
To accomodate any recognition of these points, those who represent the status quo should seek to harness the views of those fathers from teh menz movement who have experiences that portray a separate view of our history in domestic violence, and in turn for those views can offer alternative measures to cope with that violence. Bevan Berg, as our senior advocate in this area, especially for this post would be an excellent place to start.
Without contacting Bevan, the coordinators of this hui continue to maintain direct child neglect failing to recognise their failings. And after all isn’t this failing to recognise fault in oneself the primary reason to champion a campaign against domestic violence?
Comment by Benjamin Easton — Sat 29th September 2007 @ 12:03 am