Rau rangatira mā, tēnei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te rā- mana wahine.

 

Ko Te Mata taku maunga

Ko Tukituki taku awa

Ko Tau iwi

Ko Ngāti Pākehā ahau

Ko Steve Chadwick taku ingoa

 

No reira

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā rā tātou katoa.

 

Thank you, Kim, for the warm welcome and inviting me to join you for the launch of Rape Awareness Week. I think your reference to no longer giving speeches in the rain is very relevant because, in many ways, the whole issue of sexual violence has come in from the rain over the last couple of years, and that is something worth celebrating.

 

And, as you also said, there have been many achievements in recent years – and it is important that we recognise and celebrate these.

 

Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to the victims/survivors of sexual violence. Let us celebrate their strength and courage, and also those who make the extraordinarily brave decision to speak out publicly about their experience in an effort to make a difference – you are an inspiration to us all.

 

To those of you who work alongside the victims/survivors, it is indeed time to celebrate your tireless efforts, not only to empower, inspire, and support survivors and their families; but also your persistence, your tenacity, and your dedication to trying to change attitudes and behaviour around one of the evils in our society.

 

We know that sexual violence – and other forms of violence where women and children make up the overwhelming majority of victims – will only end when we no longer tolerate it. That means a significant change in all New Zealanders’ attitudes and behaviour. It means not just changing the perpetrators’ attitudes, but also the attitudes of those who accept violence as inevitable – or think it is a problem for someone else to solve.

 

Slowly, there are signs that all the effort is starting to work. Thanks, in large part, to the courage of those who have spoken out, many New Zealanders have stopped ignoring the issues and have begun to openly talk about things like how such a culture of violence has been allowed to develop.

 

At the same time, the government and community organisations have begun to work in a much more strategic way to co-ordinate their efforts and to find answers to those very difficult questions. Thank you for acknowledging the government’s actions Kim – I would also like to thank Te Ohaakii a Hine-National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST) and its members for pushing to get that co-ordination, and for being such constructive partners.

 

We know that prevention is the ideal and must be our ultimate aim. One of the priorities for the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence is to develop initiatives to prevent sexual violence. It is also working with TOAH-NNEST on strengthening the sector, and on changes that will result in better services for those who have been subjected to sexual violence.

 

This government is working hard to ensure that its own agencies work more closely together to find solutions. Too often in the past, we have struggled to get a truly effective whole-of-government approach to such issues – let alone one that has government, NGOs and communities working together. But with the Taskforce and other work, I really feel that we are beginning to make progress.

 

My colleague, Justice and Police Minister Annette King is the lead Minister of the Sexual Violence Taskforce Group. She has asked me to reinforce the Government's determination to work with communities to reduce sexual violence and to make real improvements to the way those who have experienced sexual violence are supported.

 

The impact of sexual violence is often under-estimated, but we believe that we are on the cusp of important change in how sexual violence is addressed in this country. Victims/survivors need to feel empowered to disclose offending, and offenders must be prosecuted by the Police and held accountable by the Court; so that both victims/survivors and the public can see that justice is being done.

 

Some of you will be aware of the research currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Among other things, it will identify ways of improving the safety and longer-term well-being of adult survivors of sexual violence and why it is so hard for victims/survivors to obtain justice.  Indeed, some of you may have already directly contributed to shaping the research projects. To you, thank you for your support.

 

This year we announced $446 million for building a Sustainable Social Services Sector – Pathway to Partnership.  This will improve the quality and sustainability of community-based social services, and make a real difference in the lives of families, children and young people. It provides funding for essential social services delivered by community organisations, as well as funding adjustments for volume increases and annual cost adjustment payments. 

 

Under the Pathway to Partnership banner, services that intervene to stop sexual violence, and services that support those affected by it, are regarded as essential services. This means that in the coming fiscal year they will receive a CPI adjustment, which will be ongoing. And over the following three years, the issue of funding and volume of services delivered will be addressed. I understand that individual providers will receive confirmation shortly on the impact of Pathway to Partnership on their services.

 

To all of you, thank you for your work. It is extremely valuable, and valued. The Government certainly values and admires your commitment in the ongoing battle against sexual violence.

 

The changes we are all seeking will not come quickly or easily but, over time people can, and do, change. It will take time before sexual violence is no longer tolerated in our homes and communities, but together we can get there.

 

And we must use events such as Rape Awareness Week to help keep the issues top of mind. We must ensure that the momentum created by many brave and resolute people, and through years of struggle by those who have given many speeches in the rain, is maintained.

 

So let’s celebrate the fact that Aotearoa is listening as never before. We have a range of work that will both help prevent sexual violence, and provide better support to its victims/survivors, and together we have the opportunity to achieve so much more.

 

Thank you for asking me to participate in this launch, and best wishes for a Rape Awareness Week that affects all New Zealanders.

 

Thank you.