Our efforts to stop child abuse 'failing'

Christine Rankin. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A campaigner for children says the death of a two-month-old baby girl proves attempts to stop the violent abuse of children are not working.

Tahani Mahomed died on New Year's Day after being admitted to Starship Hospital severely malnourished and badly beaten. Police say they are treating the case as a homicide, and have removed Tahani's two-year-old sister to a CYFS foster home.

For the Sake Of Our Children Trust spokeswoman Christine Rankin says it is clear current approaches to the problem have not made a blind bit of difference. She says it proves the anti-smacking law is a complete failure and the message just is not getting through to those who need it most.

Ms Rankin says we need to start responding strongly to drug and alcohol abuse.

- NEWSTALK ZB