Action on family violence

Show it's not OK - do something - a few suggestions for getting involved

Break the silence. Friends and family are usually the first port of call for people seeking help with conflict and violence within their families. Make a point of learning more about family violence and how to be supportive and encouraging. The earlier someone is able to offer help the more chance there is of changing behaviour and avoiding an escalation of violence.

Breaking the silence also helps to lessen the isolation and shame suffered by victims. It may encourage them to find help or enable you to offer help. Ask, "are you OK?" It's also a message to abusers that there's awareness and condemnation of violent behaviour but at the same time there is support for people who want to change. It is OK to seek help.

Choose to live in a violence-free environment. This can be as simple as making a personal commitment to making your home violence-free with all members of the family treated with love and respect, where children are raised without physical punishment and abusive language is never used. Encourage others in your wider family to do the same.
Encourage other violence-free environments, your sports club for instance, or your marae.

Name it. Call it family violence. It isn't a "relationship problem", it isn't "just a domestic", it isn't "an argument that got out of hand" - it is violence and it needs to be named if it's going to stop.

Don't accept excuses. Banish victim blaming. Make a clear stand that says family violence is unacceptable - there is never any justification.

Phone talkbacks. Write letters and articles for newspapers and magazines. Make your opinion known in your place of work, club, sport or social group.

Raise discussions around news reports and magazine clippings.

Get to know your neighbourhood. Be an activist for a safe community. You could establish a network to ensure that everyone in your street or neighbourhood knows what to do if they become aware of family violence or families who are stressed and need support.

Know who can help. Find out about the agencies and community groups that deal with family violence prevention, crisis intervention and support. Support their work through involvement, practical assistance, referral, raising community profile or helping to fundraise.

Workplaces can introduce a ‘no tolerance to violence' policy and make sure it is well promoted and applied. This can include making information about preventing family violence available and fostering links to community support for people wanting change. Workplaces can also arrange for training in family violence issues and prevention strategies for industrial chaplains, workplace counsellors, human resource personnel, health and safety officers, employee assistance programme advisors, employee organisations and organisers

Workplaces can also encourage staff involvement and support for community events and campaigns.

Share a few suggestions for getting involved (Word 36KB) with your family, whanau, workmates and friends.