Commission to Evaluate National Plan on Ending Women, Child Violence

The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission, in partnership with ANROWS, will today convene the first in a series of roundtables bringing together experts from across the country to advance the goal of ending violence against women and children in one generation.

Today's Roundtable will provide opportunities for collaboration and coordination with attendees from across the community - including people with lived and living experience of domestic, family and sexual violence, the sector, academia, business, philanthropy and government - coming together to develop a shared understanding of how we can measure the impact of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2023 (the National Plan).

Micaela Cronin, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner said that this roundtable is the first in a series of conversations which will foster collaboration in working towards the ultimate goal of ending domestic, family and sexual violence.

"It is only by working together as a community, drawing upon the expertise and insights of a diverse range of voices, that we will be able to achieve the goal of ending violence against women and children in one generation," Ms Cronin said.

"Today's roundtable is an important first step; an opportunity to build shared knowledge of the data collection and measurement efforts already underway, and to develop a shared understanding of how we can all work together to keep ending domestic, family and sexual violence on the national agenda."

Padma Raman PSM, CEO of ANROWS said that today's roundtable is a key instrument to ensure that we are working together to achieve the objectives of the National Plan. "If we are to end violence against women and children then we need everyone at the table, we need to hear from a range of voices. This is a complex issue, and one that we can only solve by working together," Ms Raman said.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth emphasised the need to keep the conversations going.

"The National Plan was co-designed with a broad section of experts and people with lived experiences. It's important that the engagement doesn't end with its publication."

"To stop gender-based violence we need to change our entire society. That's no easy task and we'll need everyone pulling together and continuing to share insights and knowledge if we are to achieve the actions in our plan and see change."

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Justine Elliot, highlighted how vital ongoing collaboration would be to the work of the Commission.

"These roundtables will facilitate important conversations on how to best track, monitor and report progress of the National Plan."

"I know how invaluable this will be to the work of the Commissioner, who is working right across the sector, and with states and territories, on how to effectively measure the Plan's progress."

Roundtable participants will hear from Assistant Minister Elliot as well as Ms Emma Powell, Chief Executive, Te Puna Anonui, a cross-agency Executive Board aimed at improving the whole-of-government approach to family violence and sexual violence in New Zealand, and Professor Anne Summers. Outcomes from the Roundtable will be used to inform policy and identify priorities for the Commission's first annual Report to Parliament.

The Commission will also launch its first Strategic Plan which outlines four objectives for the Commission, including promoting the National Plan and monitoring its impact.

Commission's Strategic Plan is available from the Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Commission website.

The National Plan End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2023 is available from the Department of Social Services website.