RESOURCES

TASKFORCE FOR ACTION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence commissioned research into a number of specific issues related to sexual violence, in partnership with the participating government ministries and the community sector. Te Toiora Mata Tauherenga – Report of the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence, 2009 structured over 70 recommendations into three priority areas – preventing sexual violence (focussed on primary prevention), developing effective specialist frontline services for victims and offenders, and reforming criminal justice.

In addition, the following research was also published:

National Stocktake of Kaupapa and Tikanga Maori Services

What Works in Sexual Violence Prevention and Education – literature review

A Review of the Association between Drugs (including Alcohol) and Sexual Violence – literature review

Alternative Models within the Criminal Justice System – background paper

Tauiwi Responses to Sexual Violence: Mainstream crisis support and recovery and support

Mainstream Crisis Support Services Responding to Sexual Violence Perpetrated against Adults: Good Practice Project – Round 1

The Government accepted and aligned its work priorities with many of the recommendations of the Select Committee Inquiry into Sexual Violence Services: The report was released: 31 March 2016, to read – Recommendations

MINISTRY OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS

Researchers from the Crime and Justice Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, were contracted by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to undertake four work streams relating to effective interventions for adult victim/survivors of sexual violence. The four streams were released in 2009 as reports:

An overview of these four research reports of the sexual violence research project into effective interventions for adult victim/survivors of sexual violence is here:

Restoring soul: effective interventions for adult victim/survivors of sexual violence (2009)

Related to Taskforce recommendations, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs have also released:

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO POLICE CONDUCT

In 2007, the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct (the Commission) released a report into Police culture sparked by Louise Nicholas’s allegations against Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and other officers. The report (Volume 1 and Volume 2) criticised the historical conduct of some police officers and their associates, including inappropriate sexual activity and a culture of scepticism in dealing with complaints about sexual assault.

The Commission’s findings included 60 recommendations. Most were for the New Zealand Police (the Police), but some were for the Police Complaints Authority and the State Services Commission. The Office for the Auditor General is responsible for monitoring the progress of Police response to these recommendations, and have released three monitoring reports to date:

ACC

In 2010, ACC reviewed their Sensitive Claims Clinical Pathway, the funding stream for people who have a mental injury caused by sexual abuse or sexual assault. The resulting report made 14 recommendations for ACC, and these recommendations have been monitored in two reports to date:

MINISTRY OF PACIFIC ISLAND AFFAIRS

In 2010, Pacific Health at the University of Auckland released research into Pacific Pathways to Prevention of Sexual Violence. The research examines culture-specific protective factors for seven Pacific nations, and is compulsory reading for anyone wishing to work with Pacifica peoples to end sexual violence. You can access from the Ministry of Pacific Affairs website.

NEW ZEALAND LAW COMMISSION

There has been considerable interest in the criminal justice sector response to sexual violence, and whether adversial trials meet the best interests of justice. The Law Commission has sought feedback, from the review they published The Justice Response to Victims of sexual violence – Criminal Trials and alternative Processes report in December 2015. To read the rull report here