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News & Events
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."
- John Donne
- John Donne
Victorian government to review laws stopping sexual assault survivors sharing their story
The Victorian government has announced a review of laws preventing sexual assault survivors from speaking publicly about their experience, hours after a campaign to have them repealed was launched. Changes to the state’s Judicial Proceedings Reports Act introduced in February…
‘Absolutely broken’: sexual violence advocate Louise Nicholas dumped by Government
Louise Nicholas taught Kiwis how to speak about sexual violence. Now, she believes the Government wants to silence her. Jehan Casinader reports. Published in Stuff It takes a lot to make Louise Nicholas cry. She has been called a “slut”, a…
Gloriavale’s sexual assault policy asks victims to ‘forgive’ abusers, gives offenders three chances to stop
Sexual assault victims at the secretive religious Gloriavale sect are made to meet with their abuser and forgive them – without police being notified. Gloriavale leaders then give offenders “second and third chances” to stop offending, along with more rounds…
Royal Commission launches separate probe into Marylands abuse
Abuse of children at Marylands School in Christchurch from the 1950s to the 1980s will be the subject of a special Royal Commission investigation. The Royal Commission looking into the abuse of children in state and religious institutions has announced…
Mental Health Peer Specialists and Their Vision for a Civil Rights Movement
Many who have mental illness disabilities suffer from isolation and are disconnected from others. They can experience social anxiety, feel nervous, and be unable to connect or make friends. Some have agoraphobia, where they are unable to leave their home.…
From the Chairman’s desk, March 2020
Don’t be afraid to take an unfamiliar path Sometimes they’re the ones that take you to the best places – Unknown Kia ora koutou, An Essential Service – Navigating Covid-19 At this time of uncertainty, it is important to reflect on…
Research article: The Polite Abuser: Using Politeness Theory To Examine Emotional Abuse
Over the last few decades more and more cultural attention has been paid to intimate partner violence, especially emotional abuse. Follingstad, Rutledge, Berg, Hause, and Polek (1990) established that emotional abuse fell into six distinct categories; however, little attention had…
New domestic violence stats show psychological abuse as common as physical
New family violence statistics gathered by the Ministry of Justice show psychological abuse is just as common as physical abuse in New Zealand. A recently released report, The ‘Offences by Family Members’, contains findings likely to influence future funding for…
Reynhard Sinaga case: why male victims and survivors need their own support system
The crimes of Reynhard Sinaga described by prosecutors as “the most prolific rapist in British history” have shocked and horrified many people. But the case has also highlighted that rape doesn’t just happen to women. While the scale of Sinaga’s…
From the Chairman’s desk, Dec 2019
Kia ora koutou, The end of 2019 provides a welcome opportunity to pause, reflect and re-energise as we approach a demanding schedule of work in the first half of 2020. This update highlights some of our achievements over the last…
Rape Crisis renamed; OCASA to work with all genders
For the first time in its four-decade history, Dunedin’s Rape Crisis centre will work with sexual abuse victims of all genders. The shift is part of a major overhaul of the organisation, which also includes changing its name to the…
Ribbons tied to fence of Catholic Cathedral to honour victims of abuse
Ribbons have been tied to the fence of the Catholic Cathedral in downtown Auckland by attendees and witnesses from the Royal Commission into Abuse. Survivors and supporters walked the short distance from the Rydges Hotel, where the Royal Commission into…