Law society finds violence report ‘simplistic’
A report about inadequate enforcement of protection orders has been described as simplistic by the New Zealand Law Society.
The report has also come under fire from the judiciary.
Interesting to note that from this sample :
“Indeed, this research found that 87.5 per cent of the women in its case studies who applied for a protection order without notice to the other party were successful – a rate that is higher than the national average which, in 2006-2007, was 78.4 per cent.”
Its a nice way of the Law Society treating this “research” as what it really is Social Marketing for the reforms it advocates. Its a sad reflection that Waikato University Academics have to resort to undertaking social marketing programs on behalf of the Ministry of Womens Affairs.
So far we have suspicion and criticism from the Republicans, the Police, the Family Court, and the Law Society, did I miss anyone and rallying to the aid of the cause (apart from vested interest) was The NZ Herald, which translates in New Zealand to Government mouthpiece.
Comment by Bevan Berg — Thu 30th August 2007 @ 9:38 am
Response To Protection Orders Report
Press Release by National Collective of Independent Women?s Refuges at 5:00 pm, 30 Aug 2007
Criticism of this week’s report on protection orders is being described as dangerous, disappointing and misguided by Women’s Refuge and the National Network of Stopping Violence Services.
The report, by researchers at Waikato University, was commissioned by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and highlighted major gaps and deficiencies and made a raft of recommendations to address them.
The methodology of the research has been rejected and questioned by some, including the Chief Family Court judge, Peter Boshier, and the Law Society, and there has also been criticism it is gender biased.
However, the Chief Executive of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, Heather Henare, and the National Manager of the National Network of Stopping Violence Services are both strongly defending the report.
“The stories of the women in this research are consistent with the stories we hear every day from women our agencies work with. We have heard for a number of years it is increasingly difficult for women to obtain orders and, if they do get them, to have breaches taken seriously.”
“Worryingly, attempts to discredit the research are consistent with many women’s experience of saying they are experiencing violence in their relationship and having others minimise and deny their reality. We continually give the message to people to believe victims of violence, however the response from some to the research just reinforces the negative experience that prompts so many women to say nothing.”
Ms Henare says the criticisms must not distract from the major and important message the report carries.
“Too many women and children are being left in vulnerable and life threatening positions every day in this country and to leave these issues unaddressed would be absolutely inexcusable.”
Mr Gardner says it is an inescapable fact when talking about domestic violence that it is overwhelmingly men’s violence to women.
“The numbers of women, children and men murdered by men, the number of men in our prisons, the 92% of men who are respondents to protection orders and the large body of New Zealand and overseas research cannot be easily dismissed,” Mr Gardner says.
Ms Henare and Mr Gardener are calling on the Government to urgently address the issues raised in the report and ensure women and children in this country are given the full protection of the law that they need and deserve.
Comment by UF — Thu 30th August 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Its great! Lets get the vested interest groups to support the social marketing campaign.
Reality check for the social marketers – How often do Judge Peter Boshier, family lawyers Fathers and Parents activists agree on anything?
“It was described as unbalanced by Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier,…”
The society’s family law section said today …. the statistical sample on which it was based was too small to provide a proper basis for developing policy.
I am happy to agree with these observations of the report being unbalanced and the sample too small to be of any real value in setting social policy.
I would go further and add that what is being shown here is a carefully orchestrated campaign of social marketing the winners being the vested interests who make money out of consulting. Womens Refuge and National Network of Stopping Violence Services
As the saying goes : consulting, if your not part of the solution theres a fortune to be made prolonging the problem.
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Thu 30th August 2007 @ 6:43 pm
The women’s groups know that this is too small a group (43 women took part) to accept. In fact they say themselves when faced with research that goes against them, “It is too small”
So by them using this research, they are saying that none of the research that they have going on that is with much larger amounts of women are giving them what they want.
Comment by julie — Thu 30th August 2007 @ 7:15 pm
And the dog said to it’s tail — “you will not wag me anymore!”
Comment by Bevan Berg — Thu 30th August 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Mizzz Henare hides behind a Maori surname.
It seems to be a trend in the Womens Rights field.
Change your name to it’s Maori “equivalent” maybe you might get some “mana”.
Interesting term that, the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, independant from who?, the taxpayer?, if these people were truly independant we wouldn’t have to read thier drivel in the media every day and wouldn’t have to fund thier BS either.
Comment by MikeT — Thu 30th August 2007 @ 11:35 pm