An Old but New Sign for the Times

The new sign has been organised by the Taranaki Safe Families Trust and Collaborative, which is made up of 28 social service non-profit and government organisations focussed on the prevention of family violence throughout the Taranaki region.  The new sign picks up the message from the national “Its Not OK” campaign, that family violence is never ok and that it’s always ok to ask for help.

Inspector Fiona Prestidge was involved in organising the previous message, and says that after 7 years it is timely to replace it by returning to a family violence message; the earlier message stated that “Family Violence is a Crime”.

The launch of the sign coincides with White Ribbon Day (25 November), the international day when people, particularly men, wear a white ribbon to show they won’t tolerate or condone violence towards women. 

Janice Jessiman, Manager of Taranaki Women’s Refuge and member of the Taranaki Safe Families collaborative states “No violence within families is tolerable. Violence isn’t just physical abuse. Emotional or verbal behaviour used to control someone through fear is also violence.

In New Plymouth a number of White Ribbon activities are planned, such as:

• White Ribbon Day Ride and event 09 – Wednesday 25 November, 4.30-6.00pm @ Puke Ariki Landing
• Family Challenge Day – Sunday 29 November, 1-4pm @ Yarrow Stadium
• CBD business White Ribbon window displays
• More FM White Ribbon car aerial competition
• White Ribbon ambassadors will be handing out FREE ribbons in New Plymouth CBD on Wednesday 25th November 

Statistics:

• In New Zealand most violence against women takes place in the home
• In violence between couples, it is men’s violence that is most likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm
• An average of 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex partners
• There are over 3,500 convictions recorded against men each year for assaults on women

For more details about White Ribbon visit www.whiteribbon.org.nz