Lessons from domestic violence during Covid-19 lockdown must be implemented, Women's Rights Commissioner says

Thursday, 30 July 2020

The Women’s Rights Commissioner is calling on the Government to make sure there is a better plan in place for victims of domestic violence if New Zealand goes back into lockdown.

This call comes off the back of a report prepared for the United Nations on the impact of Covid-19 and the increase of domestic violence against women.

Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo said when New Zealand first went into lockdown the whole country was taken by surprise.

EEO commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo says our women’s prisons are not meeting either stated government standards or international human rights expectations.

But at present there was a window of opportunity to get things in place in case it happened again, and she wanted to see it used.

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In the report, which saw the New Zealand Human Rights Commission talk to NGOs and people supporting whānau through domestic violence, there were a range of recommendations made.

This included developing a national plan for addressing violence against women during lockdown including Māori, women with disabilities, ethnic minorities and trans women.

The report said the plan should also ensure women at risk of domestic violence had access to basic needs including food, water, housing, power, transport, and Internet.

Adequate resourcing for victims, as well as the perpetrators of domestic violence to seek the help, was also recommended.

While police data did not indicate an increase in domestic violence during the lockdown, the information provided regarding the barriers victims faced during lockdown in reporting domestic violence and accessing support, suggested there was an increase, the report said.

“It’s really important the Government pays attention to those voices,” Sumeo said.

An issue that arose from the first lockdown was where people could access help as transgender women, refugees or the disabled.

Justice Under-Secretary Jan Logie during her media conference after announcing the Budget 2020 is to increase support for New Zealand's family and sexual violence services.

“Some people couldn’t leave their homes, so giving them permission, it’s okay to leave the house if you are unsafe [is important].”

There was also an assumption people who needed help had access to a phone, which was not always the case, she said.

With discussion around regional lockdowns also on the table, Sumeo said it was important Government agencies were connecting with those who would be involved in local communities.

“We need a plan now. We have this window of opportunity, we don’t know how long that window is.

“I will be pushing to ask, what are they doing to help?”

Groups in the community continued to meet regularly to monitor the impacts of Covid-19 on family and sexual violence, Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice for Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues Jan Logie said.

“Should New Zealand enter another period of lockdown, either nationally or regionally, Joint Venture Agencies, including the Ministry of Social Development and NZ Police will reactivate the processes they initiated during the first Covid-19 Alert Level 4 to ensure family violence and sexual violence services can continue to operate as essential services.”

She said during lockdown, agencies increased support for victims, perpetrators, families and whānau, and increased their use of networks, marketing, and social media to reach people.

“Changes made to funding, technology, and operations since March this year have put both sexual violence and family violence services in a much stronger position to work remotely if needed and continue to provide services to those affected.”