Domestic abuse: Shielded Site offers safety and no digital footprint

Horizons Regional Council Palmerston North councillor Fiona Gordon.

"Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace." - The late Kofi Atta Annan, Ghanaian diplomat and 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Domestic violence is the nemesis of dignity, fairness, equality, respect and autonomy. It is also a crime.

Ending domestic violence is everybody's business and I consider local government to be well positioned to take a leadership role within their communities.

That's why earlier this year I teamed up with Dr Ang Jury, chief executive of Women's Refuge New Zealand, in a bid to encourage local government to boost their efforts towards combatting domestic violence.

Ultimately we would like to see all councils nationwide hosting the Women's Refuge New Zealand Shielded Site on their websites.

The Shielded Site is a web-based portal that provides women with access to essential information privately and without fear that their abusers, who may be monitoring their victim's browser history, will know they have been reaching out.

It has a web-chat function too, allowing women to connect with specialists in family violence to receive advice in real time, while maintaining absolute confidentiality and leaving no digital footprint.

Local Government New Zealand were quick to respond to our call, hosting the Shielded Site on their own website and then spreading the word in their nationwide newsletter.

The National Council of Women New Zealand kindly included an article in their June newsletter and last month I personally wrote to every mayor and chair across the country.

I'm super pleased to report that Horizons Regional Council and all seven local councils within the Manawatū-Whanganui region now host the Shielded Site.

Coverage across our whole region is a significant milestone and I'm hopeful it might inspire other regions to do the same.

So far the number of councils hosting the Shielded Site has increased from around eight in April to 49.

This is great progress but I'm conscious that with 78 councils nationwide we can still do better.

Councils play a key role in providing for the wellbeing and safety of communities during any crisis and sadly, domestic violence has amplified amid the Covid pandemic.

It is vital that anyone experiencing domestic violence has safe and secure avenues to reach out through for help.

Hosting the Shielded Site is a simple yet effective measure every council can choose to take.

I can't think of any reason a council would choose not to host it, certainly not once they are aware of the valuable service it can provide our communities.

- Fiona Gordon is a Horizons Regional Council councillor for Palmerston North.