An Old but New Sign for the Times...

A message speaking out against family violence for the community – “Taranaki where Family Violence is NOT OK” has replaced the previous message about giving alcohol to minors on the wall of the New Plymouth Police Station. The sign will be completed by Monday the 23rd November.

The sign has been organised by the Taranaki Safe Families Trust and Collaborative, a regional charity representing the interests of over 30 social service non-profit and government organisations focussed on the prevention of family violence. 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.

Janise Jessiman, Manager of Taranaki Women’s Refuge and member of the 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. Things we say, or don’t say, contribute to the abuse”.

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 (see attached flyer)
Family Fun day – Sunday 29 November, 1-4pm @ Yarrows Stadium (see attached flyer)
CBD business White Ribbon window displays
More FM White Ribbon car aerial competition
Look out for White Ribbon ambassadors handing out FREE ribbons in New Plymouth CBD during Wednesday the 25th

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

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An Old but New Sign for the Times...

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