Violence Prevention Opportunity

22 June 2000

Kia ora, the following alert is forwarded on behalf of the Peace Foundation.

Violence Prevention - A Great Opportunity to Help it Progress.

In early June the Minister of Health released 'The New Zealand Health Strategy Discussion Draft'. The finalised strategy will be used by the new District Health Boards, when they come into existence next year, to guide their decision-making and to set priorities for action.

One of the key goals is "Fewer injuries" and 4 objectives are listed under this goal.

1. To reduce the incidence and impact of road traffic injuries;

2. To reduce the incidence and impact of falls in older people;

3. To reduce the incidence and impact of injuries (other than traffic) in children and youth;

Twelve objectives, out of a total of 50, have been selected as a priority for immediate action. Objective 4 listed above - "To reduce the incidence of violence in interpersonal relationships, families, schools and communities" is one of those 12.

This is very good news !

It means that if this priority remains in place when the Strategy is finalised the Ministry of Health and District Health Boards will be required to focus on it and to allocate funding and resources to achieve it.

We are encouraging everyone who is concerned to see violence prevention undertaken as a public health initiative to make a submission on this Draft Strategy welcoming the selection of this objective as a 'priority for immediate action'. You may also like to say that whilst supporting this policy initiative from the Ministry of Health you'd like to see similar ones adopted by other relevant Ministries e.g. Police, Justice, Youth Affairs, Womens Affairs, Social Welfare, Education etc. etc.

The Draft is being being widely circulated for discussion during June and July and submissions will be received until July 28. It is currently available on the Ministry's web site: http://www.moh.govt.nz/nzhs.html or contact tel (04) 496 2277; fax (03) 479 0979; moh@wickliffe.co.nz for a copy. Details of consultation and issues to comment on are included in the Draft.

Marion Hancock,
Peace Foundation, Box 4110, Auckland.
peace@fps.ak.planet.co.nz

Action Alerts	PMA's newsletter	What's on where	Peace links	Help PMA grow	Support PMA!	Petition Forms	Site Map