MoMA Comments on Jesse Ryder Assault
MoMA MEDIA RELEASE:
Violence Towards Men Being Neglected
Following the violent attack on cricketer Jesse Ryder, a community group called the Ministry of Men’s Affairs has accused the NZ Families Commission of contributing to violence towards men. Spokesman Kerry Bevin claimed that by funding and coordinating the White Ribbon Campaign that urged people to oppose violence only towards women, the Families Commission treated violence against men as unworthy of concern.
Kerry Bevin said ‘In fact, men are much more frequently the victims of the most serious violence in our society as shown, for example, by NZ Ministry of Health statistics concerning assault and homicide.’
‘The White Ribbon Campaign implies that the only violence we should be concerned about is that committed by men towards women. It also implies that male victims are to blame for their own misfortune and need not be considered in a state-funded anti-violence campaign, and that violence committed by women is ok.’
End
MINISTRY OF MEN’S AFFAIRS
MINITATANGA MO NGA TANE
A Community Group because successive governments have failed to protect the welfare of New Zealand men
PO Box 13130
Tauranga 3141
[email protected]
Contact: Hans Laven (07)5712435 or (0274)799745
or Kerry Bevin (09)4247762
Note that the Families Commission has dropped White Ribbon, and sent it on its way. I believe this has come about because of the widespread criticism of White Ribbon’s sexist agendas.
See- http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8459509/Anti-violence-campaigns-future-uncertain
Comment by John Brett — Thu 4th April 2013 @ 12:08 pm
It is actually a very well written article. If it had just one comment in there that said, “It had to go – we simply need to address violence between individuals and not blame men.” Was there no one to say that, or did the author not bother to search for balance – how hard is an internet search. It is definitely an improvement.
Comment by Down Under — Thu 4th April 2013 @ 2:22 pm
I told our local organiser 2 years ago that I would only wear a white ribbon when it’s purpose became “To oppose violence against Children, Men, and Women. I was assured that it was changing “Next” (2012) year. Still waiting!
Comment by Gwahir — Thu 4th April 2013 @ 4:05 pm
It has changed here in Kapiti and I am told by Manu Caddie that Te Rawhiti (East Coast) has also adopted White Ribon as against all violence.
Comment by allan harvey — Thu 4th April 2013 @ 4:39 pm
That’s a brave call – the world operates on violence or threat of violence – military, law enforcement, the financial system, political system, penal system, entertainment (movies/books/contact sport) parental discipline and right down to tone of voice and women pulling out the tears when they don’t get their own way.
Let us see how long before there is an acceptance that the IRD does NOT have an unfettered right to the death of fathers to collect child support penalties or whether they do have the right to fetter men.
Comment by Down Under — Thu 4th April 2013 @ 4:52 pm
A mens support organisation is appearing here. Considering the attitude expressed in my earlier post (#3) includes the person refered to.
We live in difficult and dangerous times.
Comment by Gwahir — Thu 4th April 2013 @ 5:35 pm
Bury White Ribbon this is a good thing. Was waving white ribbons ever going to change anything. A badge waving community group that does nothing but wave its badge – imagine if Lions or Rotary went around waving their badges for recognition but didn’t actually do anything. (Or was it just a Government machine expecting compliance)
Look at some of the ways in which the conflicts arise and the way we do not deal with these. Some of this falls upon the privacy law and upon the medical profession because they no longer treat families as a family but two individual people some with children and even then, it is debatable as to how much consideration they give the positions of mother and father.
Particularly when it comes to treating the mental health issues of women – these are not issues that are isolated to the individual but have a profound effect on any family yet the family is not treated as such, just the individual in isolation. That is just one issue.
If we cannot accept how we arrived at this point, we are certainly not going to see our way clear of it.
Comment by Down Under — Fri 5th April 2013 @ 9:49 am
Badges, ribbons etc have worked well for earlier campaigns. Yes lets ditch white ribbon and all its connotations. Why does it have to be a ribbon, Badges are equally as effective. I visualise a stylised fist within a red circle and surmounted by a diagonal red bar! Come on you graphic artists. Have a go!
Comment by Gwahir — Fri 5th April 2013 @ 7:17 pm
Keep the white colour & add men and children….
or have a new colour which represents men, women and children…
Comment by Kumar — Thu 18th April 2013 @ 2:10 pm
Not to certain. Our Office admin was today wearing a black Tshirt claiming the wearer was opposed to violence against Women and children.
Don’t know quite how widely these are available!
Comment by Gwahir — Thu 18th April 2013 @ 3:38 pm