Media Release
18 July 2009

Youth Against Child Abuse NZ is fed up by the campaign of misinformation coming from the Yes Vote lobby group.

The Yes Vote lobby claim that a ‘yes’ vote “is a vote to protect children from assault”. While we must keep young people safe from child abuse, the referendum question, “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand” has absolutely nothing to do with assault.

“The youth of New Zealand have had enough of empty slogans like this one,” says spokesperson Matthew Van Voorthuizen. “If the youth of NZ were able to vote, they would give the Yes Vote lobby a vote of no confidence as they offer no genuine, workable ideas to tackle child abuse.”

“The referendum is dealing with the question of smacking in the context of good parental correction, not assault which is clearly child abuse,” he says. “Equating a parent who loves their child enough to give them a smack to correct them, with the deplorable act of child abuse, is equating apples with oranges. It’s just not OK.

“We are calling on the Yes Vote Lobby to truly stand up for young people by offering real solutions to tackle our awful problem of child abuse in New Zealand.

YACA is extremely disturbed that the Yes Vote Lobby is supporting the new law even though it may actually lead to increased levels of child abuse. Firstly by continually seperating families by legislating against parental authority will only lead to family break down which can directly result in child abuse. Secondly by criminalising smacking and time-out will not protect children from violence. Instead it will create stressed and harrassed parents who may occassionly give in to oubursts of anger against their children causing physical and psychological abuse.

“It’s a horrible downwards spiral.”

YACA continues to call for a Royal Commission to be set up so that all New Zealanders, young and old can have their say in how we should go about tackling this major problem.

“At the referendum, lets vote ‘NO’ to criminalising good parents - and lets say NO to child abuse with a Royal Commission.”

ENDS

Media Release
14 July 2009

Youth against Child Abuse New Zealand wishes to address the confusion surrounding the disciplinary action of smacking, and anger-driven child abuse. Too often these two actions are considered to be the same, a mistake that is often made by some of the advocates of the new anti-parental correction law.

Yes Vote; the group that was created to represent the minority who will vote ‘yes’ in the upcoming anti-smacking referendum, are adamant that a light smack for the purpose of child correction is the same as child abuse. They claim, “A ‘yes’ vote is a vote to protect children from assault.”

YACA believes that there is a great difference between child discipline that is carried out in a loving, controlled way in order to train a child, and child abuse which is the uncontrolled and unacceptable behaviour of angry parents.”

A smack, given out of love for a child is completely different to beating a child out of anger, and all good parents know the difference,” Says YACA Canterbury Regional spokesperson, Charles Smith.

YACA is also alarmed that the Yes Vote group are equating ‘physical discipline’ with ‘family violence’, something that the Government has been seeking to address in their ‘Family Violence, it’s not okay’ campaign.

The Youth of New Zealand know this country has a terrible record on child abuse, but equating physical discipline with child abuse is just not okay as it undermines all the good parents who are trying to raise good citizens.

“The horrific rate of child abuse in New Zealand has nothing to do with good parental discipline, because the motive for both actions are completely opposite to each other,” Says Mr. Smith. “Child abuse happens when parents lash out at their children in anger, while a smack given for the purpose of correction is given out of love, for the training of the child.”

The polls have consistently shown since 2005 that more than 80% of the population see that there is a substantial difference between child abuse and child discipline.

YACA is looking forward to the New Zealand public showing their agreement with this by voting NO in the upcoming referendum.

ENDS

Media Release
10 July 2009

Youth Against Child Abuse NZ is surprised to hear claims that voting yes will help lower New Zealand’s horrific child abuse rate, particularly from youth action group Students against Violence (SAVE).

“Sue Bradford herself said that her bill was not designed to address the problem of child abuse,” says YACA spokesperson Caleb Brown. “In fact quite the opposite is a likely scenario”.

“CYFS is permitted to use force whether it is reasonable or not, to remove children from homes where the parents sometimes use smacking – it’s just ridiculous,” he says.

The SAVE group which advocates for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the “anti-smacking” law has got it wrong. While YACA applauds their courage in standing up against child abuse, we must not criminalise all good parents in the process.

“I admire their effort,” says Caleb Brown, “But their constant criticism of the people who plan to vote No without offering any real ideas in tackling child abuse is hypocritical of what they stand for”.

YACA calls for a royal commission to be set up to look into the real causes of child abuse. “The whole country must have a chance to tackle this issue together,” says Caleb Brown.

YACA also calls for John Key to listen to the people of New Zealand and support John Boscawen’s compromise bill which is very similar to National Party MP Chester Borrow’s previously defeated “hand-smacking-only” bill.

“This would ensure that parents were no longer classed as criminals for simply giving their child a light smack.”

Both actions must be urgently adopted by the government to bring the country together in fighting child abuse and its causes.

ENDS

Media Release
29 June 2009

YACA calls for all New Zealanders to Vote NO in the upcoming referendum on child discipline.

YACA is disturbed by the rising levels of child abuse in New Zealand. Over the past few years, there have been many cases of severe child abuse, examples include Nia Glassie, the Kahui twins and many other such cases. This culture of violence must stop.

“Even though the so-called anti-smacking law was passed in 2007 the levels of child abuse have not dropped,” says YACA spokesperson Caleb Brown. “Change is needed”.

“Sue Kedgley misled the house in 2007 when she claimed that the bill ‘aims to strike a blow at the culture of violence in our society’. Sue Kedgley knew then what Sue Bradford told us later, that the bill was never intended to stop the culture of child abuse in this country.

YACA calls on all New Zealanders to use the upcoming referendum on the ‘anti-smacking’ law as a means of demanding the government to not criminalise all parents because they discipline their children. All New Zealanders must Vote No to tell the politicians that this law has not worked as Sue Kedgley said it would. All New Zealanders must Vote No demanding that the government  tackles the real causes of child abuse. All New Zealanders must Vote No to ensure the government leaves good parents alone.

“The Youth of New Zealand are sick and tired of the government’s culture of inaction against the culture of violence,” Mr. Brown says.

While the Youth of NZ can not vote in the upcoming referendum, their message is clear. Vote No! Give the government a vote of no confidence in its inaction while pressuring them to do something which will truly strike a blow at the culture of violence.

ENDS

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Youth Against Child Abuse is a new youth-based organisation which will be starting up very shortly.

Would you like to be involved or find out more? Email nzyaca@gmail.com

Watch this space!

- the team