Group raising awareness of rural domestic violence

Domestic violence group It’s Not OK has co-ordinated national resources for a Fieldays stand in an effort to raise awareness of domestic violence in rural areas.

The stand is a collaboration between domestic violence awareness groups from around the Waikato and New Zealand.

Morrinsville Community House funding and finance manager Roslyn Nancekivell said the group would be sharing a tent with other support organisations and the police.

“We had the opportunity to work with the New Zealand police to have a portion of their stall for the It’s Not OK violence campaign.”

An Auckland University study done in 2004 found higher rates of partner abuse and child sexual abuse occurred in rural areas.

Thirty nine percent of women in rural areas reported having been physically or sexually abused by their partner in their lifetime compared with 33% in urban areas.

Sexual abuse of children in rural areas was also higher at 28% compared with 24% in urban areas.

“We know that family violence can be harder to detect in rural areas and that victims can be trapped in isolated situations away from friends, family and services,” said Trish Green, campaign manager for It’s Not OK.

“Fieldays provides a perfect opportunity to give visibility to this huge social problem and encourage people to talk about it and get help if they need it.”

Nancekivell said they were working with Violence Free Waipa to collaborate with other networks around the country.

“We’ve got resources from across the country, so it’s relevant to anyone no matter where they are from.

“And we’re working with the It’s Not OK campaign as well, which has provided funding to allow us to do this.”

Violence Free Waipa co-ordinator Claire Castle said that they wanted people to talk about it.

“It’s such a huge event that we just thought it’s ideal to reach a lot of people.”

Nancekivell said that it is a way of raising community awareness and spreading the message to reduce incidents of family violence.