Keeping the ‘right door’ open for survivors of sexual violence
Victim-survivors of sexual violence don’t want to talk about what’s happened to them, so it is critical they can safely tell their story once, and once only, to get the immediate help and ongoing support they need.
“The first door they knock on has to be the right door,” says Dr Kate Taylor, Trust Chair of the Midlands Sexual Assault Support Service (MSASS).
“Victim-Survivors don’t have the capacity to advocate for themselves, you can’t send them elsewhere, they won’t make a second call. Our service ensures they get support, without having to repeat themselves.”
The need for MSASS services is significant - sexual violence is much more prevalent than most people believe. The most recent New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey says that 78,000 adults, some 1.9% of the adult population, one in fifty, had been subjected to sexual violence in the last year.
The percentages are even higher for some population groups, particularly young women, and these numbers don’t include children and youth. The overall rate of victimhood is not believed to be growing but the numbers seeking help is steadily increasing.
“The numbers suggest there cannot be one person in this country who does not know someone affected, whether we’re aware of it or not,” says Simone Molenaar, the Chief Vision Officer at MSASS.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Predator Alert : Male after your young children
I've tried to post this 3 times from a post on Facebook but it won't post on here. Please, please look out for this vehicle and the male who is after young girls, possibly boys but only underage girls mentioned so far.
Ngaruawahia Community
Ria Elkington · repdSstnool1miec10trmmlu458g:l8l94b1i58eD 4ac9a1g303te7 6ht ·
⚠️❗️❗️WARN YOUR CHILDREN .ESPECIALLY YOUNG GIRLS
Hey just putting this out there if anyone knows this car to keep an eye out.
This man is DANGEROUS
Fair skinned shaved head
Possibly 30s has been stalking my 14 or old around town for two weeks yelling out his car , following her and her friends in town.
Today she was walking home alone and he saw her turned around and pulled up and got out to approach her.
She yelled at him to go away and said she was only 12 .he said that's OK.
And got closer to her and she had to fend him off and run home.
He then drove past her near whatawhata Ave dairy .and she hid inthere till she saw him leave .
She ran home.
Let us know if you have any info as we've called the police twice .