Violence in ethnic groups targeted

SPEAK OUT: Carterton woman Priyanca Radhakrishnan believes a new resource will help ethnic communities understand violence is not okay in NZ PHOTO/FILE

A new government resource aimed at addressing violence in ethnic communities will offer women steps to find help in a country where the culture is very different to their homeland, Carterton woman Priyanca Radhakrishnan says.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett this week launched a new booklet entitled Culture No Excuse for Abuse which has been produced by Auckland's Shakti Community Council with help from the Ministry of Social Development's 'It's Not Ok' family prevention campaign.

Ms Bennett said the booklet encouraged communities to recognise family violence and where to seek help.

"This is a fantastic new resource aimed at encouraging conversations within ethnic families and communities on how to recognise family violence in its many different forms and what to do about it," she said.

Before moving to Wairarapa, Mrs Radhakrishnan helped set up a Shakti Women's Refuge in Tauranga in 2006/2007 to support ethnic women experiencing domestic abuse.

She said while she hadn't yet seen the resource booklet, she believed it would help ethnic women to find support and realise abuse in any form wasn't acceptable.

"It sounds good ... I hope it will lead to more women getting help."

Oppression against ethnic women needed to be addressed Mrs Radhakrishnan said.

Some arrived knowing little English or New Zealand customs and beliefs around abuse of women, she said.

"Everybody needs to prioritise that oppression of women isn't okay. This [booklet] will alert them about what they need to do if they are in a new country and where to go for help."

There are more than 87,000 family violence investigations each year in New Zealand which affect 100,000 children.

Abuse in our communities often went beyond hitting out and it wasn't acceptable in any culture, Ms Bennett said.

"New Zealanders of all ethnicities need to take action and commit to keeping their loved ones safe and free from violence ...

"I have no doubt this excellent new resource will help families to have some difficult but very important discussions on what is and isn't okay in their homes," she said.