Articles
Focus on traumatized boys critical to gender equality, new research shows
TORONTO — Boys in poor urban areas around the world are suffering even more than girls from violence, abuse and neglect, groundbreaking international research published on Monday suggests. The study…
Specialist sexual violence social work: Ensuring good practice
This research sought to understand social workers’ perspectives on good practice in specialist sexual violence social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Read article (PDF) By By Bridget Leary and…
From the Chairman’s desk, December 2019
Kia ora koutou,The end of 2019 provides a welcome opportunity to pause, reflect and re-energise as we approach a demanding schedule of work in the first half of 2020. This…
Move to lift Catholic clergy sex abuse secrecy is too late, survivor says
A New Zealand church abuse survivor says the Vatican’s decision to abolish secrecy clauses for Catholic clerical sex crime cases is “far too late”. Pope Francis this week announced “pontifical…
What is known about effective recovery services for men who have been sexually abused?
This literature review brings together current evidence about effective approaches to support men who have been sexually abused (as children and/or adults) in their journey of recovery. The Ministry of…
Gaps in Sexual Assault Health Care Among Homeless Young Adults
Interventions are needed to increase use of preventive care after experiencing sexual assault among young adults experiencing homelessness. Read article (PDF) By American Journal of Preventive Medicine December 2019
A sex abuse survivors advocate says sexual offence laws need to change
A 37-year-old woman has been jailed for two-and-a-half-years for sexually abusing students while she taught at Marlborough Boys’ College. She could only be charged with sexual conduct with a person…
Hundreds of Kiwi children harmed while in the care of Oranga Tamariki
Nearly 500 babies, children and teenagers in Oranga Tamariki care experienced physical, emotional and sexual harm, and neglect in just one year. The first full annual report on harm in…
MSA issues policy discussion paper on Working with Gangs.
The MSA discussion paper is issued to inform a policy development conversation and to provide guidance for its member organisations. Read article (PDF)
Catholic priests jailed for sexually abusing deaf children in Argentina
Two Roman Catholic priests were each sentenced to more than 40 years in prison in Argentina for sexually abusing deaf children, a court in the western city of Mendoza ruled…
Research report: LGBTQI experiences of seeking help and justice in the wake of sexual harm
Within Aotearoa/New Zealand’s justice system and help-providing professions, little is known or understood about LGBTQI experiences of sexual harm. In this research report, which is based on research I conducted…
Press release (Ministry of Health): Suicide Prevention Office gets down to work
Media Statement By Rt Hon Jacinda Adern (Prime Minister), Hon Dr David Clark (Minister of Health) 27 November 2019 New Zealand’s first ever Suicide Prevention Office has officially opened today…
Outrage after Catholic Church leader allegedly justified abuse
A woman molested as a five-year-old girl by a high-profile Catholic theologian is outraged at a church leader justifying his abuse. A Catholic leader is accused of telling a woman…
Two survivors quit Royal Commission advisory group
Two abuse survivors have quit a Royal Commission advisory group in fallout from being unknowingly exposed to a paedophile. The two men accuse the new chair Judge Coral Shaw of…
Altar boys say they were abused by priests at the Vatican
Former altar boys have claimed they were molested by priests inside the Vatican, as a lingering scandal surrounding widespread abuse in the Catholic Church erupts at its headquarters once again….
‘You ruined me’: New Zealand’s abuse survivors speak at landmark inquiry
Survivors are given a voice at first public hearings of investigation into historical abuse of thousands of children in state and faith-based care. On the morning Annasophia Calman is due…
Victims of child sex abuse still face significant legal barriers suing churches – here’s why
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, we are witnessing a wave of legal reforms across Australia aimed at helping survivors seek justice. Most visibly, there…
Rape Crisis renamed; OCASA to work with all genders
For the first time in its four-decade history, Dunedin’s Rape Crisis centre will work with sexual abuse victims of all genders. The shift is part of a major overhaul of…
Ribbons tied to fence of Catholic Cathedral to honour victims of abuse
Ribbons have been tied to the fence of the Catholic Cathedral in downtown Auckland by attendees and witnesses from the Royal Commission into Abuse. Published in Radio New Zealand
Majority of sexual violence incidents reported to police are children or young people
The majority of 23,000 sexual violence incidents reported to police during the past five years were experienced by children or young people, according to a new Ministry of Justice report….
Royal Commission hearings: Children’s Commissioner says state care has failed
The Children’s Commissioner has told the Abuse in Care Royal Commission that his office has failed to properly monitor the state care system. Since 1989, the Office of the Children’s…
Royal Commission hearing: Psychologist says some children better off in state care
A clinical child psychologist has told the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care that children were often better off in state care than staying in families where they were abused….
Survivor raped multiple times in care despite concerns raised
A woman has told the Royal Commission investigating abuse in care she was moved between at least a dozen care homes and raped multiple times – all before she turned…