Women let down by law system, says professor

Dr Ruth Busch. Photo / Dean Purcell

A retiring Waikato University law academic who helped change the face of domestic violence legislation has criticised a "disappointing" judiciary system which she claims has not delivered.

Associate Professor Ruth Busch, who is retiring after 23 years, said domestic violence and its consequences continued to be minimised by the judiciary and other family law decision-makers.

Her comments came on the same day as Hamilton police charged a man with arson after a domestic violence incident in the city.

The man, who appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday afternoon, was charged with breach of a police safety order as well as multiple domestic violence offences.

Professor Busch said a proper focus on the psychological, physical and sexual safety of victims would make a big difference to the lives of women and children.

"The judiciary should be carrying out the objectives of the Care of Children Act and the Domestic Violence Act and not be seduced by the notion that domestic violence is a 'he said/she said' situation or unimportant if it occurs at the time of separation."

She said the high correlation between child abuse and abuse of women had been shown repeatedly.

Law reform had not delivered what she believed it would.

"We were naive because we thought that if we could explain the effects of violence to decision-makers and amend violence-related statutes, the law could become a significant force in enhancing victims' safety and children's resilience," Professor Busch said.

"We should have known better. Deep-seated misogyny and other biases still influence policies and case law about violence, even today."