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Archived Press Releases 2007 27th July 2007

MOMENTUM IS BUILDING FOR INQUIRY INTO CHILD ABUSE

(27th July 2007)

Pressure continues to mount for an official inquiry into Child abuse in New Zealand.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is adding its weight to calls from the For the Sake of our Children Trust and Family First NZ for an official inquiry following revelations that another child is fighting for her life after sustained abuse by members of her family and other in the household.

The three year old Rotorua girl is in Starship Hospital after three weeks of repeated abuse, this is just the latest in a series of child abuse cases that has seen New Zealand's exponential rise to having one of the highest child abuse rates in the developed world.

Three men and a woman have been arrested and charged with the assault, the police believe the child was bashed and abused over a 36 hour period.

The latest attack on a defenseless child has prompted a scathing attack on the inaction from Parliament with the Sensible Sentencing Trust saying the Cross-Party group formed after the Kahui twins tragedy has been totally ineffective.

The Trust say they will lend their weight to others pushing for an official inquiry but will also set up a separate unit under the Sensible Sentencing Trust to push for legislation changes specifically in the child abuse area.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said, "Sentences for those who kill or abuse their children have been woefully inadequate. Our children are unable to defend themselves and Parliament seems to have put this problem in the too-hard basket and Judges are ignoring the public's cry for deterrent sentences to protect our children."

"Sentences are by no means the whole solution but for those abusing these children sentences must fit the crime."

"The bottom line is our children must be protected from these horrific crimes."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.