Categories


Tags

YouthCrisisSexual ViolenceMaoriDisabilityCoordinationElderEthnicParentingWomenChildrenFamilyLegalMenCounsellingEducation


Archive

Weekly Media Roundup

September 11, 2020 at 2:27 PM

The Spinoff: The people spoke – but did anyone listen?

Rebuilding and healing broken communities can be a slow and frustrating process. But as Max Rashbrooke writes, it starts with listening to the powerful stories of those with lived experience.

Read more…

 

RNZ: What we can do to end sexual violence

Comment: Every day many of us go through a mental checklist of questions to protect ourselves from judgement, harassment, assault, rape, or worse, writes Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo*. "Is my skirt too short? "Should I get my male friend to drop me home?", "Should I even work the late shift?", or "Who can I stand beside so X won't try anything?", and the list goes on.

It can be exhausting as a woman in Aotearoa having to ensure one's dignity and sanity daily. Like how journalist Veronica Schmidt became overwhelmingly paranoid in her life, through no fault of her own, after a stranger filmed her in a Kmart changing room. Or like former firefighter Jaymie who still struggles and admits the "nightmares won't stop", 16 years after the sexual abuse at the hands of her colleagues.

Sexual violence exists because abusers, mainly men, believe they can get away with it. Many victims suffer in silence because they fear their chances of being believed, supported, and protected would probably be low. When victims call for help some people look the other way or 'follow policy' that better serves anyone bar the victim.

Engrained sexism, gender inequality, silence, and lack of leadership trivialise sexual violence and give licence to perpetrators to continue to destroy lives. They are barriers that need to be removed if we are to create a society with equal opportunities.

Read more...

 

Stuff: New relationship and sexuality guidelines announced to make schools more inclusive

Students across the country are going to get improved relationship and sexuality education in a bid to promote inclusiveness and tackle issues such as bullying rates and increased access to online pornography.

The guidelines, announced by associate education minister Tracey Martin at Wellington’s Onslow College, aim to teach kids about healthy relationships, including diverse students.

Read more...

 

NZ Herald: Schools told to let students choose their gender identities and names

Read more...

 

Newshub: How kaupapa-Māori education programme 'Bros For Change' is transforming the lives of young men

A Christchurch-based, kaupapa-Māori alternative education programme plans to offer online courses this year after their programme is fully booked out until 2022.

'Bros for Change' Tīmatanga Hou programme has been evaluated as having an 89 percent success rate since it launched in 2015, helping troubled youth become responsible young men, unlocking their potential and reconnecting them to their cultural identity.

Read more...

 

NZ Herald: Four-year-old beaten Flaxmere boy is happy and doing 'extremely well'

The 4-year-old beaten Flaxmere boy, transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Auckland in April and now in the care of his grandmother, is doing "extremely well".

It's been nearly eight months since an extended family member called emergency services to a Ramsey Cres address on January 29.

The boy's suspicious injuries included widespread bruising and a brain injury.

Read more...

 

NZ Herald: TikTok working to remove a distressing video from its platform

Warning: This article discusses suicide and could be distressing for some people.

A social media giant says it is "aggressively" trying to remove an upsetting video from its platform and will take action against any users who share the content online.

The footage, which appears to show a man dying from suicide, was first shared on Monday morning NZ time.

It was originally livestreamed on Facebook, but has since been circulated on other platforms including TikTok and Instagram - prompting a warning for parents and caregivers to check in on their children.

Read more...

 

Stuff: How to tackle sexual harassment and abuse in the New Zealand Defence Force

OPINION: It’s been two years since the New Zealand Defence Force set up Operation Respect to stamp out sexual harassment and abuse in its ranks. It came after reports exposed a culture of "persistent sexism" in the NZDF.

But a recent independent review of the programme, commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, revealed a "code of silence" continues, with an overall lack of trust that complaints will be taken seriously.

Despite some positive changes, such as the Sexual Assault Response Team, the review found these initiatives lacked resources and suffered from high staff turnover.

Read more...

 

NZ Herald: Northland child sex ring: Kaitaia man gets home detention

A Kaitaia man has been sentenced to 12 months' home detention for his part in an under-aged sex ring in the Bay of Islands.

Marcus Barker, 55, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court today charged with one count of sexual connection with a person aged 12-16 and two counts of contracting for sex with a person under 18.

Barker was one of five men arrested in February this year when police discovered a 35-year-old Paihia man had allegedly been advertising sexual services with his girlfriend, who had turned 15 a few months earlier. That man, whose name is currently suppressed, has pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.

Read more...

 

RNZ: Fiji communities empowered to fight child abuse

Warning - Readers may find some details in this story distressing..

Confronted by the rise of child sexual abuse in Fiji, NGO Save the Children is forming community based child protection committees.

The NGO's Fiji chief executive, Shairana Ali, said the committees would act as custodians for children and monitor their well-being.

Read more...



Category: News Media